Maccabi Tel Aviv Faces Milan With Daniel Theis's Status Uncertain

Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to host Milan for their fourth EuroLeague game tonight at 7:00 PM, wearing yellow uniforms with black armbands to commemorate the victims of the October 7th war. The team, currently with a 0-3 record, hopes to improve their standing after a series of disappointing performances. Captain John DiBartolomeo will return to the roster after a week-long absence due to his brother's wedding. However, player Daniel Theis remains questionable due to lingering ankle discomfort, despite completing two full practices. Maccabi's coaching and medical staff are assessing Theis's condition, as his size is crucial for both offense and defense. A final decision on his participation will be made shortly before the game to avoid aggravating his injury.

The team is looking to build on their recent victory over Hapoel Jerusalem in the Winner Cup Final, hoping it boosts the confidence of players like Ife Lundberg, Oushe Brissett, and Jalen Hurd, who have not yet performed to expectations. The club has been impressed with Kithon Wallace and anticipates continued strong play from him. Amidst the professional challenges, the game takes place during a particularly sensitive period for the club and its players.

DiBartolomeo spoke about the difficult times, stating, "These days are very hard, it's difficult to get through them and focus on sports." He acknowledged the ongoing challenges since October 7th, requiring daily focus on supporting families back in Israel while also performing their professional duties. "It's something I don't want to say we've gotten used to, but it's something we've had to work on every day since that moment," he said, adding, "We thought and still think about them, today we will focus on our game because we have an important game."