4:45pm: Beal has been ruled out for Monday’s game in Atlanta due to his left hamstring strain, the team announced (via Twitter). He will be listed as day-to-day going forward and his status is uncertain for the team’s final three games of the season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
9:50am: Wizards guard Bradley Beal will undergo testing to determine the severity of a strained hamstring he suffered Saturday night, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
Beal said he tweaked the hamstring early in the second half and it became more painful as the night went on. He left the game with 21 seconds to play in the fourth quarter and was held out of overtime as Washington defeated Indiana to move into ninth place in the East. Coach Scott Brooks told reporters that Beal’s status will be determined over the next few days.
“I knew it was a little tight in the second half,” Beal said. “First play of the second, I twisted my ankle … I went back out there, my left hammy felt a little tight. I didn’t think anything of it, kept playing. I think the layup on (Doug) McDermott put us up one, it kind of intensified a little bit, and then the floater I missed at the end, it definitely kind of put me over the top.”
Washington has four games remaining as it tries to move into the upper play-in game. The Wizards will play twice in Atlanta, then will finish the season at home against the Cavaliers and Hornets. They are currently a game and a half behind eighth-place Charlotte.
In addition to the playoff race, Beal’s injury could affect the battle for the scoring title. He poured in 50 points last night and is averaging 31.4 PPG, trailing the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, who is at 31.9 PPG.
“Let’s hope for good news and that he is all good to go,” Russell Westbrook said. “His night can’t go unnoticed either. He had 50 … He has been keeping us together along the season and (been) very exceptional. I am grateful to have him as a teammate.”
Steph Curry gifted another scoring title. Really disappointing.
Pretty sure he earned it.
I don’t think there’s anything “gifted” in the NBA. You have to scratch and claw and fight for every single jot or tittle you get. Whether it’s a scoring title or rotation minutes or a spot on the end of the bench. There’s no “free” anything in the NBA.
Whaaaaaaa.
Cowardly sitting out the final-week shootout with Steph for the scoring title, weak move.
Well Beal chose to remain on a suck team, that’s on him…
They won’t make the playoffs if Beal is out for the play-in tournament.
Yeah the hammy is a tough one. You could just tell him to tough it out and play anyway but wow you can’t even run with one of those things. One little tweak and it’s over. I feel bad that Chris Paul has endured that a lot of years. But if Beale has any kind of strain he won’t be able to run full speed or cut. Won’t bode well for the Wizards.
Hamstring is not good for Wizards. They better sit him or could lose him for year. They’re in a fight for 10th seed with Pacers. Pacers have a tougher schedule so they still have a shot. I doubt Beal cares about a scoring title. The 7th seed Celtics are happy now. Wizards are not an easy out. Get well Beal ….