Another Olympiacos center is injured in the Greek Cup: Nikola Milutinov suffers a fracture
The Greek basketball powerhouse, Olympiacos Piraeus, dominated Maroussi 91-67 in the Greek Cup semifinals, but the celebration was tempered by the injury to one of their key players. Nikola Milutinov, a 31-year-old Serbian center, suffered a fracture in his right thumb during the game. This is the second time in the tournament that an Olympiacos center has been injured, following the knee tendinitis of Tyrique Jones in the quarterfinals.
Milutinov's injury occurred about three minutes before the end of the third quarter, and he was visibly in pain. Initial tests revealed a fracture in his right thumb, and multiple reports confirmed the diagnosis. It is expected that Milutinov will miss the Greek Cup final, but the timeline of his absence has not yet been announced. After the injury, coach Georgios Bartzokas replaced Milutinov with Donta Hall, and the team's medical staff attended to the Serbian big man.
Later, tape was seen on his thumb, and Olympiacos confirmed that he would undergo further medical examinations. This is a significant setback for the team, which is already dealing with the absence of Jones. Milutinov's injury is a stark reminder of the physical demands of basketball and the importance of player health and safety.
Despite the injury, Olympiacos will face their rival Panathinaikos in the Greek Cup final. The team will need to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome the loss of two key big men. As coach Bartzokas noted, "Milutinov hit his finger. We'll see. Jones will try to practice tomorrow. I hope we have at least two centers."
The Greek Cup final promises to be a challenging and emotional affair for Olympiacos, as they strive to balance their success on the court with the well-being of their players. The team's ability to adapt and overcome adversity will be a key factor in determining their fate in the tournament.
