Walter Tavares to be game-time decision against Partizan in Game 2 / News - Basketnews.com

Walter Tavares (left knee) will be a game-time decision for Game 2 against Partizan.

Credit: Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic Credit Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic

Real Madrid star center Walter Tavares will be a game-time decision for Game 2 against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, the Spanish club official confirmed to BasketNews.

Tavares suffered a knee injury at the end of the second quarter in Game 1 when he awkwardly landed on his foot after Sergio Rodriguez's lob pass and immediately asked for a substitution.

"He felt pain after he was hit in the knee, and he kept feeling pain," Real Madrid head coach Chus Mateo said in the press conference after Game 1. "There was a problem with one of the ligaments."

The additional tests confirmed that the 31-year-old avoided a severe injury.

Tavares went straight to the locker room before halftime and even played for a couple of minutes in the third quarter.

However, he was substituted with 7:26 left in the third quarter and didn't return to action for the remainder of the game.

After the game, Tavares was noticeably struggling as he was limping towards the exit from WiZink Center.

In 22 minutes of action, he finished the game with 12 points (5/6 2PT, 2/2 FT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 20 PIR.

Meanwhile, Jesus Sanchez from Marca reports that Tavares' appearance in Game 2 is very complicated, adding that Real Madrid consider bringing Vincent Poirier's to action.

The 29-year-old French recovers from appendicitis surgery, and the initial expectation was that he could make his return in one of the games in Belgrade. It is yet to be seen whether Poirier will actually play in Game 2.

Game 2 between Real Madrid and Partizan is scheduled on Thursday at 20:45 CET.

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