By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv should face Valencia in Round 12 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, reinforced with Darrun Hilliard and Wade Baldwin, as Sport5 reports.
The club suspended Hilliard without officially explaining the reasons, and the US swingman missed the game vs. Bayern Munich, which Maccabi lost 98-89 in Audi Dome.
As the Israeli media outlet mentioned, he got suspended for tweeting “Real eyes detect real lies” after the loss to Hapoel Jerusalem, which coach Oded Kattash supposedly thought was directed to him.
Hilliard and Katash reportedly spoke, and Maccabi’s plan is to get him back on the team for the crucial Valencia game, as the Tel Aviv team lost three straight games. He’s not expected to play today against Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the domestic competition.
Former Baskonia, CSKA Moscow, and Bayern Munich player averaged 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over six EuroLeague games this season. He also spent some time off the court because of an injury.
As for Baldwin, he suffered an injury at the end of the Hapoel Jerusalem loss and missed the road game at Munich. However, the latest estimation is that he will be fit for the match vs. Valencia at Menora Mivtachim on Thursday.
The athletic playmaker is one of the best players of Maccabi this season, with an average of 15,6 points and 4,5 assists per game.
Meanwhile, Valencia will travel to Tel Aviv without their best player Chris Jones “due to arthritis in his right knee joint,” as the Spanish club reported.