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Nikola Milutinov out several weeks with left knee injury – How will CSKA Moscow respond?

Photo: EuroLeague Basketball

CSKA Moscow big man Nikola Milutinov will remain out of action for several weeks, due to a left knee injury he suffered on Thursday night.

Milutinov sustained the injury in the opening game of CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague. The Serbian big man left the game vs Armani Milano after just two minutes.

“Milutinov has to go for an MRI scan and it doesn’t look good,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis told reporters. The 26-year-old center underwent medical tests that showed a partial damage to the internal lateral ligament. He will undergo conservative therapy and will be out for a few weeks.

Without Nikola Milutinov, CSKA lost to Armani in its season opener (84-74). The question now is how CSKA will respond. With consecutive games in both the EuroLeague and the VTB League, the Russians will need to bolster their frontline.

Coach Itoudis and the management could consider signing a big man to a temporary contract, most likely a two or three-month one. Alternatively, Johannes Voigtmann and Tornike Shengelia will need to play the “5” along with Joel Bolomboy.

With CSKA facing defending champions Anadolu Efes next week, the Russians will need to make their decision as soon as possible.

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