Walkup, Larentzakis unavailable for Olympiacos vs. Virtus / News - Basketnews.com

Thomas Walkup and Giannoulis Larentzakis will be missing from Olympiacos' upcoming home game against Virtus Bologna. Naz Mitrou-Long's participation is a game-time decision for coach Giorgos Bartzokas.

Credit: Stefanos Kyriazis/NurPhoto via Getty Images Credit Stefanos Kyriazis/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Olympiacos Piraeus will suit up in the EuroLeague Round 28 game against Virtus Segafredo Bologna with two absences.

Points this season

47%79,3Points made:79,3Accuracy:47,4%Place in standings:14Record max:101Record min:53Best scorer:Alec PetersTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Thomas Walkup and Giannoulis Larentzakis will be out, as the American-born point guard suffered a sprain in the Reds' latest Greek league game against Peristeri last Monday, while the Greek guard is suffering from a knee injury.

The good news for coach Giorgos Bartzokas is that his team will not line up without a point guard, since Nigel Williams-Goss has returned to practice after a period of working out individually. As for Naz Mitrou-Long, who returned with a shoulder injury from his Greek national team duties, his participation is still doubtful.

The Reds count four straight wins and a 16-11 overall record, which keeps them firmly in the top six. On the other hand, Luca Banchi's team is 17-10, having beaten Olympiacos 69-67 in the first round matchup.

"The sure thing is that Walkup won't play," Bartzokas confirmed.

"His leg is quite swollen. The sprain is second-degree and there is never a timeline for these cases. However, we are talking about a player who is more receptive to pain than anyone else. So, Walkup isn't playing. But Goss will play," the Greek coach continued.

"Mitrou-Long is extremely doubtful. Larentzakis won't play. In general, they are all getting better, but it is the readiness and of course the dynamics of this game that call for players who have to be absolutely ready."

Bartzokas also commented on the fact that Olympiacos will cover the absences with team game.

"I think that in the last three years, where we've had important victories and good seasons, we have never been stopped by the absences. We believe a lot in our team game because the players who come in to play, regardless of their position and the conditions, have to serve a certain way of playing and that makes us overcome absences and shortcomings," he argued.

"Of course, that happens to a certain extent," he acknowledged. "Because basketball is played by basketball players. The EuroLeague is a league of huge value in my opinion. A lot of good players, good coaches and of course the value of the players. We rely on our team play, but of course we also need the talent of the players."

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