Remaining healthy is a struggle for Bradley Beal.
The Washington Wizards 2-guard suffered a broken nose and concussion during the team’s loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday night. Here’s the Wizards’ release (h/t Bullets Forever):
Wizards guard Bradley Beal has been diagnosed with a broken nose and concussion by the Wizards medical staff after being hit in the face at the 8:22 mark of the second quarter during Monday night’s game vs. Boston. He is out for tonight’s game at Toronto and his status moving forward will be listed as day-to-day.
Per the NBA’s Concussion Policy, Beal will now begin the NBA-mandated “Return-to-Participation Exertion Protocol” and will be cleared to play once he has remained symptom-free during each step of the process.
Beal should be able to wear a mask and play as his broken nose heals, so this is now a matter of him going through the NBA’s concussion protocols. But…damn.
Alan Anderson and Khris Humphries are already banged up, and Washington’s up-and-town season cannot afford anymore abrupt absences. The Wizards are still on the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture and trying to pick up the pieces of what was supposed to be year that saw them contend for the rights to second-place behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
At the same time, the Wizards, per Basketball-Reference, are statistically better without Beal on both sides of the floor. He plays against mostly starters, so there’s that to consider; but Washington has spent more time without Beal on the hardwood, so there’s that to consider as well.
