Milan feature three players questionable ahead of clash with Valencia / News - Basketnews.com

Shabazz Napier, Shavon Shields and Giampaolo Ricci will be game-time decisions for Ettore Messina in Milan's game against Valencia in Spain.

Credit: Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire Credit Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

It's EuroLeague time for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, who are facing Valencia Basket on Tuesday night in the hunt for their fifth consecutive win.

Shavon Shields

Team:EA7 Emporio Armani MilanPosition:SFAge:28Height:201 cmWeight:98 kgBirth place:Kansas, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Valencia are in the running for a playoff berth, coming from a high-margin loss in Vitoria, but also from a big win over Tenerife in the ACB. It is the team that has played, so far, the highest number of closed games in the entire EuroLeague - 14 games that ended within six points and one more in overtime.

Valencia have won nine of these games. The other main trait of its season is the perfect balance of its record: it is 7-7 at home and 6-6 on the road.

On the other hand, Milan are playing to improve their position in the standings and build on their latest wins, especially the one against Olympiacos, a 21-point (83-62) beating of the former league-leading team.

Kevin Pangos, who has appeared in just ten games so far, is available.

Shabazz Napier (right ankle) and Shavon Shields will be game-time decisions. Shields, however, if available, will be under a severe minutes restriction.

Pippo Ricci (overloading to the right thigh) didn't practice with the team before leaving for Valencia.

In addition, there will be no Gigi Datome, Devon Hall, and Paul Biligha for Ettore Messina, who stressed that "Valencia has talented perimeter players, led by Chris Jones and Jared Harper, a lot of depth and a shooting center, like Bojan Dubljevic, who is able to make the job of defending him hard to any team."

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