The play began with terrific hustle: Caron Butler jumped out of bounds, flipped the ball to Gilbert Arenas, who launched it ahead to a streaking Antawn Jamison.
And that’s where the Wizards season might have changed for the worse.
The Wizards now are bracing for having Jamison miss at least three weeks with a sprained left knee, suffered at the end of this play in Tuesday’s win over Detroit.
Jamison will undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury. But there’s at least some concern Jamison could miss at least eight weeks, which would put his return near the end of the regular season. However, until the MRI results are shown, it’s only speculation.
“I said a few weeks,” Jordan said, “but it’s just the thought of the Head Coach and we still have to have our doctors look at the MRI and we will go from there after we get a clear diagnosis.”
Jamison did not accompany the team to Toronto, where the Wizards fell 119-109 to the Raptors Wednesday night. He suffered a hyperextended knee against Phoenix on Jan. 23 and was given time off in practice.
If Jamison has to miss substantial time, the Wizards’ depth will be tested. Despite the loss, their 27-18 record is still good for a narrow lead for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jamison is third on the Wizards in scoring (19.3 ppg) and second in rebounding (7.9 rpg). Though limited defensively, he’s a strong leader and had just started to heat up again, with three 30-point outings in the past five games.
Jamison missed 14 games two years ago as the Wizards went 45-37.
“We know how to play,” Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas said. “We just have to go and do it.”
The Wizards could replace him in various ways, with Jarvis Hayes likely to get more minutes. Seldom-used Calvin Booth likely will get more time as could Andray Blatche.
They also have two other injured players in Michael Ruffin (foot) and Darius Songaila (back). Jordan said Songaila could return around the All-Star break in mid-February
“We’ve got the personnel to keep the ship afloat,” Hayes said.
But the Wizards are fortunate in having two other players, Arenas and Caron Butler, who can score — and who can handle more of an offensive load.
“They won’t have what [Jamison] can do, but they’ll still be good because they have Arenas and Butler,” said Indiana Pacers CEO/President Donnie Walsh. “I’m sure they can compensate. It’s not easy, but when you’re a good team, somehow you do it.”
