Washington center Brendan Haywood turned his right ankle just over two minutes into the Wizards’ 123-115 preseason loss to Dallas in front of 8,201 at Verizon Center.
Haywood stayed in the game for nearly six more minutes but went to the locker room shortly after leaving the game and didn’t return. Although he left the locker room afterward with a limp — declining to speak with reporters — Wizards head coach Flip Saunders characterized the injury as a “slight sprain.”
“In a game situation, he probably could’ve came back,” said Saunders. “We decided to be precautionary and keep him out. He actually played very well, except for shooting free throws, before he got hurt. He was playing very well, rebounding the ball, doing some positive things.”
Haywood missed 76 games last year with a wrist injury, and the sight of him tumbling to the ground left other Wizards players somewhat shaken.
“When Brendan went down, I ain’t gonna lie. I was scared,” said Andray Blatche. “Aw man, I was like, not again.”
Haywood finished the night with four points and five rebounds. He was 0-for-6 from the line.
