By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Shane Larkin is dealing with an illness and is considered questionable to play for Anadolu Efes on Friday evening.
The team based in Istanbul officially listed the 32-year-old combo guard as a game-time decision for a key fixture opposite Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet in Belgrade Arena.
The experienced captain sat out team practice over the last two days, leading into Round 33 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. Upon necessary tests and consultation with the medical staff, his status for the game with huge playoff implications will be determined shortly before tipoff.
The teams coached by Luca Banchi and Giannis Sfairopoulos are tied at 18-14 in eighth place of the standings, in the middle of the Play-In Showdown zone. In addition to both sides seeking the best possible finish in the double-legged round-robin schedule of the Regular Season and thus the best possible situation in the postseason, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan requires a win by Efes to stay in the playoff hunt.
Specifically, the team guided by legendary Ettore Messina would need to beat Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Virtus Segafredo Arena tonight and Baskonia in Unipol Forum next Thursday, and the team located in the Serbian capital to drop both remaining contests, versus Efes in Belgrade and Panathinaikos Aktor in Athens next Friday, to sneak in the Play-In Showdown.
The top six teams will advance directly to the 2025 Playoffs. The teams ranking seventh through tenth will have a second opportunity via the Play-In Showdown.