John Wall can start healing, and the Washington Wizards sure need him.
USA Today is reporting that Wall suffered an injured left wrist and is listed as day to day, according to Wizards head coach Randy Wittman. He was speaking after the Atlanta Hawks beat the Wizards 106-90 in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern conference semifinals. The series is now tied 1-1, and it’s heading back to Washington, D.C., for Game 3.
“The swelling was too much for him to handle tonight,” Wittman said. Wall was expected to participate in the shootaround, but the swelling was too severe.
Wall suffered the injury during Game 1 of the series, when Wall was attempting a fast break. Wall fell to the floor and stayed there for many minutes in pain. His wrist swelled up during the day off and the pain increased. Game 3 is on Saturday, so Wall will get a three day break to rest up. Wall is getting 17.4 points a game and 12.6 rebounds a game. He had 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Warriors in Game 1.
Ramon Sessions started at point guard in Wall’s place in Game 2, scoring 21 points in Wall’s stead.
ESPN is reporting that Wall knew he couldn’t control the ball like he normally would, and would have to sit out at least Game 2. Wall wasn’t sure about Game 3.
“I can’t really say,” Wall said. “I am just doing the best I can. After it happened, I got treatment for like 24 hours straight and doing everything I can. And now it is all up to… God has a plan. All I can do is keep getting treatment and try to get better like I am playing Game 3.”
It was initially feared that Wall had fractured his wrist during the fall, but X-rays proved that was negative. Wall wouldn’t verify if an MRI had been done or not, or if there was any ligament damage to the left wrist, saying, “Nope, just a real, real bad sprain.”
His teammates cannot wait to get Wall back on the floor. “Definitely, you miss Wall,” Paul Pierce said. “That’s an All-Star starter, our best player. Of course we miss him. (But) we are not going to cry foul and use it as an excuse.
“We got to band together collectively, use the guys we have because we feel like we can beat them with what we have.”
Game 3 of the NBA Eastern conference semifinals is Saturday, May 9 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
[Image courtesy of Rant Sports]
