By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Mathias Lessort is joining Panathinaikos Aktor in Istanbul for the next two games of a best-of-five series against Anadolu Efes.
The 29-year-old big has yet to be cleared to return to action, but traveled with the Greens to support his teammates in Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Friday.
After splitting wins in Athens last week, the series moves to the Basketball Development Center. If necessary, Game 5 in OAKA Altion on May 6 will decide the team clinching a berth in the season-ending Final Four, to be played in Abu Dhabi between May 23 and 25.
Depending on potential progress in rehab, Lessort might be available for head coach Ergin Ataman in the Final Four. He was initially projected to sit out the next four months after a fractured left fibula in December.
In rehab since back surgery in December, Marius Grigonis is also out for the defending EuroLeague champions. In contrast, the remaining players are available, including Ioannis Papapetrou recovering from an ankle injury.
“We go there to fight, try to win both games. Of course, we know we are going to play tough games. Both games in Athens were very tough. We won the first game, but maybe Efes deserved to win. We lost the second game, but I believed we deserved to win,” mentioned Ataman before traveling to face his former team.
On the opposite end, Rodrigue Beaubois remains sidelined with a calf injury. The rest of the players are healthy.