They’re being chased by the NBA’s hottest team. They face a five-game road swing out West. And they’ve stumbled too much over the past 20 games.
So what the Wizards didn’t need was this: Caron Butler will miss seven to 10 days with an injured left knee. An MRI on Thursday showed no structural damage, but doctors told Butler he needed to rest his knee.
Butler is not scheduled to go on the trip, which means he would miss the next six games. The Wizards have dropped eight straight dating to last season when Butler didn’t start and couldn’t play.
Jarvis Hayes will replace Butler in the starting lineup and second-year forward Andray Blatche will be activated.
“We want to prove that we can win and that’s what we’re going to do,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said.
Butler earned his first All-Star berth this season and is averaging 19.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. But he’s been bothered of late by injuries, first a back problem that sidelined him for three games and now the knee woes.
Butler said his knee is stiff, leaving him less mobile. He tried to play in Wednesday’s win over Indiana, but lasted only 13 minutes.
“That’s been one of the toughest decisions of my career, to sit down like this,” Butler said. “It’s the first time in my career where the doctor told me we’re gonna give you seven to 10 days and we’ll play it by ear that I was like, ‘OK,’ instead of trying to fight it. I just have to wait it out.”
Wiz notes
» The Wizards host New Orleans Saturday before embarking on a five-game Western Conference road swing. Washington (35-28) led Miami by half a game entering Friday night’s action when the Heat hosted Sacramento.
» Both Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison missed practice for personal reasons Friday.
