Wizards star Bradley Beal’s hamstring injury may keep him sidelined
The Washington Wizards have made a surge into the backend of the playoff picture.
The Wizards will have to move the next two games without star guard Bradley Beal due to a hamstring strain. Following Saturday’s contest, Beal voiced that he felt the injury initially flare-up in the first half. (h/t ESPN)
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“I knew it was a little tight in the second half,” Beal said Saturday. “First play of the second, I twisted my ankle…I went back out there, my left hammy felt a little tight. I didn’t think anything of it, kept playing. I think the layup on [Doug] McDermott put us up one, it kind of intensified a little bit and then the floater I missed at the end, it definitely kind of put me over the top.”
Beal’s injury is a significant blow as the Wizards attempt a late push toward a berth in the play-in tournament. He will miss the two straight contests against the Atlanta Hawks.
Beal is putting together another impressive campaign as he’s in an intense race with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry for the scoring title. He currently lies just behind Curry (31.9) by less than a point (31.4).
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His absence from the lineup places more of the offensive workload on Russell Westbrook’s shoulders. Westbrook has been on a tear in his last 10 games, averaging 23.7 points, 14.3 assists, and 13.8 rebounds per contest.
Washington currently sits ahead of the Indiana Pacers by half a game for the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They trail the Charlotte Hornets by 1.5 games for the eighth position.
