Aris loses Gallinat to thumb injury

Aris will be missing its second-best scorer in the regular season finale, and in the playoffs if Aris qualifies.

Aris Midea Thesaloniki is set to battle for a spot in the playoffs on Wednesday without Roberto Gallinat, who suffered a fractured thumb on his left hand. He "will be out of action for at least two months", Aris said in a short statement.

It is a big blow for Aris as Gallinat is one of team's only two players scoring in double digits this season. Starting in all 16 games, and playing 25:42 minutes, Gallinat has been posting 12.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists. His scoring average and minutes played are both second best on the team.

Aris still has to secure a place in the playoffs in Round 18, and it has a chance to do so on Wednesday when it hosts another Group B playoff hopeful, Dolomiti Energia Trento.

But Aris might enter the game as already qualified if Turk Telekom Ankara wins on Tuesday. In case Turk Telekom loses, Aris will need a win or a loss by 9 points in regulation to punch its playoff ticket.

Also, Aris will know ahead of its Round 18 clash if it has a chance to finish in fourth place, which will be true if ratiopharm Ulm loses on Tuesday.

If Aris does reach the playoffs, however, it will have to do without Gallinat who's estimated return is in early April. Aris would have to make at least EuroCup Semifinals to see Gallinat back in action.

The best-of-three semifinals are scheduled from Tuesday, March 26, until Wednesday, April 3. The BKT EuroCup Finals are to begin on Tuesday, April 9, and conclude with the crowning of a champion on Wednesday, April 17, if a third game is necessary.