Wall ailing again as Wizards return home
For the second time in as many weeks, the Wizards are meekly returning to Washington after an embarrassing blowout to end a road trip with rookie point guard John Wall nursing an injury.
The familiar and frustrating scenario makes for a grim report card for Washington (6-15) at the quarter mark of the NBA season, and there’s no respite in sight for the next stretch. It starts with a visit by the streaking New York Knicks (14-9), who bring a six-game winning streak into D.C. on Friday. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat follow next week.
Results of an X-ray on the sore foot that caused Wall to be a last-second scratch on Wednesday at Sacramento did not show any structural damage, according to one of Wall’s advisers. The Wizards, who have taken a cautious approach with Wall all season, are likely to make his availability against New York a game-time decision. The Wizards also hope to get Andray Blatche back after the starting power forward missed the last two games with a left hip bruise.
Wall, who hurt his left foot in Tuesday’s loss at the Los Angeles Lakers, told reporters after the Sacramento game that he just couldn’t push off the foot like he wanted.
| Up next |
| Knicks at Wizards |
| Where » Verizon Center |
| When » Friday, 7 p.m. |
| TV/Radio » Comcast SportsNet/106.7 FM |
“I force myself to play when I’m not fully healthy, but I think I’m learning every game that if I’m not fully healthy, then don’t push yourself,” he said.
His late scratch might have been the lasting image from Wednesday’s 116-91 debacle at Sacramento (5-15) if it hadn’t been for how fast JaVale McGee’s missed dunk attempt from the free throw line in the final seconds went viral Thursday.
The ill-advised move could keep McGee out of the starting lineup for the second straight game. He was replaced on Wednesday by Kevin Seraphin, who along with fellow rookie Trevor Booker started an NBA game for the first time. Their inexperience in extended duty made for a sloppy game, but the lopsided losses — the Wizards have seven by at least 17 points — have piled up no matter who has been on the floor.
Hopefully, getting healthy will be a first step toward ending that trend.
“You’ve got to have your horse,” Wizards coach Flip Saunders told reporters in Sacramento. “You’ve got to have your players. If you don’t have your players, it makes it extremely difficult.”
