Maccabi Tel Aviv earned the road win in the opening game of the playoffs but missed Wade Baldwin with injury. Now, with Panathinaikos tying the series, Maccabi will host the Greens in Belgrade for Games 3 and 4.
Baldwin was sidelined for Game 2 after suffering a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Game 1. He exited the game and did not return. Baldwin is Maccabi’s leading scorer for the season and losing him costed the Israelis in Game 2.
Wade Baldwin
According to club’s announcement, Baldwin will travel to Croatia to continue his rehab and he will return to the team on Monday with the hope of being able to play in Game 3.
Baldwin said that he was expecting to be available for Game 2, but the MRI he went under the following day showed a small tear in his hamstring.
Panathinaikos took advantage of Wade Baldwin’s absence
With Wade Baldwin out, Panathinaikos put Maccabi’s perimeter under pressure and allowed Sloukas to be more focused in attacking the paint. Aside from him averaging 17.9 points, Baldwin is also one of the best two-way guards in the league as he can defend with the best of them.
With his size and athleticism, the former Vanderbilt product can be a nuisance for Sloukas and the rest of Panathinaikos perimeter. Let’s not forget that the Greek international registered a career-high 29 points in Game 2.
“There is no question about the quality of Sloukas, but more that quality, he is a leader,” Ataman went on to say. “Tonight he showed his quality. This will be very important for us in the next games,” Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman said after the game.
