Star guard Bradley Beal will miss the Wizards‘ games in Milwaukee on Tuesday and in Philadelphia on Wednesday, the team announced today in a press release.
Beal sustained a sprained left wrist during the third quarter of Saturday’s loss to Memphis, according to the Wizards. While he was able to finish that game, he’ll undergo further evaluation on that wrist injury before being cleared to return to action, the team said in today’s announcement.
While it’s possible Beal will only be sidelined for two games, his absence could extend beyond Wednesday. And any time he misses is a problem for the Wizards, who have struggled this season following a 10-3 start. At 23-26, Washington is currently 11th in the East, a game out of a play-in spot.
Beal is eligible to reach unrestricted free agency this summer, so the Wizards’ moves at the trade deadline and their performance in the second half will be worth monitoring closely. The 28-year-old has spoken about his desire to remain in D.C. long-term, but he also wants to see the club making consistent forward progress. The Wizards earned the No. 8 seed in the East in 2021’s play-in tournament, so falling short of a playoff spot this season would represent a step back.
With Beal out, Corey Kispert will likely return to the starting lineup, while the team leans more heavily on point guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Raul Neto for scoring and play-making.