Wiz's Beal (ankle), Wall (hand) to play Game 2
ATLANTA — Bradley Beal‘s sprained right ankle was feeling considerably better on Monday but John Wall‘s left hand was visibly swollen.
The Washington Wizards‘ star backcourt practiced on Monday and are expected to play in Game 2 on Tuesday. But they will be treating injuries suffered in Game 1 all the way up to Tuesday night’s game.
Wall said he thought he initially broke his left wrist upon crashing to the floor on a drive to the basket with 3:05 left in the second quarter of the Wizards’ 104-98 victory in Game 1.
The Wizards’ All-Star point guard said he broke the same wrist in high school but X-rays after Game 1 were negative. After taping his wrist and playing in the game, the top of Wall’s hand started swelling up after the Wizards’ win and it remained swollen on Monday.
“I’m alright,” Wall said as he unwrapped the hand and iced it after practice at Georgia Tech. “My hand hurts. Swollen but other than that I am fine.”
“I broke my wrist before but it is kind of the same type of injury because I put my hands down first and the wrist can snap or the hand can break,” Wall added of why he initially feared he might’ve broken his wrist. “… We will get the swelling down before tomorrow’s game. I did a lot of treatment last night and tried to get it as best as we can get it before the game tomorrow.”
Beal rolled his ankle landing on Al Horford’s foot in the fourth quarter with about eight minutes left. He returned to finish the final 3:50 but was still limping and did not score during that span. He finished with 28 points and seven rebounds.
“I should be good tomorrow,” Beal said after Wizards practice at Georgia Tech. “I’ve sprained this ankle 30 times. The swelling has never gone away. (But) it wasn’t that bad. Actually, I got to thank my trainers because I feel a lot better today than I did yesterday.”
Beal said he did some shooting and felt good after. Beal had a rough Game 1 physically after also getting hit in the face during the first half. A large scratch under his right eye was still red and visible on Monday.
“I felt like I was boxing Floyd [Mayweather], UFC with Anderson Silva and sumo wrestling somebody,” Beal said with a smile. “I mean that’s Atlanta. They are a physical team. I expect to get hit.
“I am guarding Kyle Korver so I am getting hit every play. That is something I expect. I love contact. I don’t mind it except for when I am getting hurt.”
Wall and Beal have been terrific this postseason. In helping the Wizards win all five of their playoff games so far, Wall is averaging 17.4 points, 12.6 assists and 1.4 blocks.
Beal has raised his game as well in the postseason, averaging 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds.
When one went down with an injury, the other picked up the slack during Game 1. Now Wall and Beal will try to steal another game in Atlanta on Tuesday.
“It wasn’t perfect,” Beal said of the Wizards’ Game 1 performance. “We got a lot to improve upon. But we love where we are at right now.”
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