Russell Westbrook will not make his Washington Wizards debut during Thursday night’s preseason game against the Detroit Pistons, but Bradley Beal will make his preseason debut.
Beal should only play “a few minutes,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said Wednesday.
Westbrook wasn’t expected to play Thursday, and the Wizards have now officially ruled him out. Davis Bertans will also miss Washington’s preseason home opener; Brooks said Wednesday that Bertans had participated in some of the team’s practice but didn’t expect him to appear.
The Wizards also placed Rui Hachimura and Garrison Mathews on the injury report. Hachimura is questionable with an eye injury while Mathews is also questionable with a left hip injury. Brooks described Hachimura’s ailment as “eye irritation,” and said the power forward hadn’t practiced Wednesday.
Injury report for tonight’s #WizPistons:
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 17, 2020
Russell Westbrook - OUT (rest)
Davis Bertans - OUT (rest)
Rui Hachimura - QUESTIONABLE (eye)
Garrison Mathews - QUESTIONABLE (left hip)
Washington opened up its preseason slate on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, losing 119-114. In that contest, first-round draft choice Deni Avdija shot 6-for-6 from the field, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds and two assists.
He’ll have a chance to link up with Beal, who’s coming off the best year of his career. He averaged 30.5 points and 6.1 assists per game in 57 starts. The 27-year-old will only receive a cameo appearance against the Pistons on Thursday.
Washington faces Detroit again on Saturday to close the shortened preseason slate. Then the regular season begins, with a matchup Dec. 23 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
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