Wizards’ Russell Westbrook out, Bradley Beal available vs. Suns
Jan 10, 2021, 2:20 PM | Updated: Jan 11, 2021, 7:10 am
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal flexes while guard Russell Westbrook encourage teammates during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
The Phoenix Suns will only have to deal with one of the Washington Wizards’ stars on Monday night.
Point guard Russell Westbrook will miss the matchup due to left quad soreness while shooting guard Bradley Beal will be available to play after missing Saturday for COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the Wizards announced Sunday.
Over Westbrook’s first seven games with Washington, he averaged 19.3 points, 11.3 assists and 9.7 rebounds per contest.
Beal has averaged an insane 35 points over his nine games to go with 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 48.9% from the field and 38.6% from deep. He put up 60 points on Wednesday and 41 on Friday before not playing Saturday.
Westbrook out vs. the Suns. Beal available after being out on Saturday due to the health and safety protocols. https://t.co/vbKJ1CVqGM
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) January 10, 2021
Washington will also be without center Thomas Bryant, who partially tore his ACL on Saturday against the Miami Heat, the Wizards announced Sunday.
The third-year player is averaging a career-high 14.3 points per game. He had dominated the Suns over the last two seasons, with performances including a 31-point, 13-rebound outing in December 2018, an 18-point, 19-rebound game in March 2019 and a 23-point, nine-rebound game in November 2019.
Despite adding Westbrook this offseason, the Wizards are off to just a 2-8 start, the worst in the NBA entering Sunday.
Phoenix, at 7-3, is tied with three teams for the best record in the league.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday. Listen live at 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
