John Wall left Sunday night’s 116-104 loss to the Mavericks after making knee-to-knee contact with Jeremy Evans. He was helped off the court after not being able to put weight on his right knee. It was the last thing the see-saw Wizards needed in a season where they’d already been without Bradley Beal for three games, and their hectic, breakneck-style of play had led to a middle 8-9 start that diminishes their prominence in the Conference, where they’re now two games back for a playoff spot.
But the long-term loss of Wall would have devastated the franchise and the city’s basketball fans. He is the Wizards right now, even as they struggle to ascertain their identity after consecutive losses the past two years in the Conference Semifinals.
Thankfully, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated and The Washington Post, no structural damage was found in the knee after x-rays were taken last night, and he was seen walking under his own power with a slight limp.
No structural damage to John Wall's knee, per league source. Wiz expect Wall to be pretty sore tomorrow, will reevaluate his status then.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) December 7, 2015
“I tried to take a step to go contest, and I didn’t have the strength and I just stopped,” Wall told The Washington Post. He also added that the knee had been bruised before the injury.
Over his last four games, Wall has been shooting north of 53 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the three-point mark, while averaging 28.5 points and 10.0 assists per game in what is easily his best stretch of the young season.
His status for Monday night’s game against the Heat is uncertain, but the fact that the X-rays were negative and he’s walking on his own gives Wizards fans something to be happy about in a season marred by the inconsistent play of their squad.
(WaPo)
