The Washington Wizards returned from their holiday break and got right back to their winning ways, but now they’ll have to hope Bradley Beal didn’t too badly injure his hamstring.
Brad was well on his way to his another 20-plus point effort but with just over four minutes remaining, Brad missed a trey and though he grabbed his own rebound, he came up a little lame turned the ball over and had to take a foul to leave the game. Washington was clinging to a three-point lead at the time, but a huge three from Kristaps Porzingis with 2:30 remaining and stifling defense down the stretch allowed the Wizards to hang on for a 116-111 win.
Afterward, Coach Wes Unseld Jr. updated that Brad was diagnosed with left hamstring soreness.
“It’s the opposite hamstring, so we’ll let him get evaluated. We’re not really sure, at this point of the severity,” he said. “We have a lot of talent, a lot of depth, a lot of versatility…guys have just bought into trying to get ourselves back on track and winning games, so whatever that means…we played with enough poise. We got enough stops.”
Brad finished the game with 19 points, 11 of which came in the first quarter as Washington built an early lead. A second quarter surge gave the Wizards a double-digit halftime lead and though the Sixers came within a possession of the lead on multiple occasions, Washington never relinquished it after the first quarter. Porzingis led the way with 24 points, including that big three after replacing Brad in the closing minutes, and also added 10 rebounds. His efforts allowed the Wizards to overcome a 48-point night from Sixers big man Joel Embiid and pull out the win.
The Wizards finish a quick home back-to-back on Wednesday the they host the Suns at Capital One Arena. Brad is listed as day-to-day but his status is in doubt for a contest with such a quick turnaround. After Wednesday’s game the Wizards embark on a four-game road trip. After a stop in Orlando on Friday, they’ll start the New Year with back-to-back games in Milwaukee on Sunday and Tuesday before wrapping it up on Friday in Oklahoma City.
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