Washington Wizards Roster
- Eastern Southeast
- Stadium
- Capital One Arena
Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura (ankle) is in line to miss his sixth game in a row due to right ankle soreness. The 24-year-old hasn't exactly lived up to the hype that he received before last season and these ankle issues aren't going to help him prove any differently. While he's out, Kyle Kuzma and Will Barton will see more time and usage. Barton is likely to be on the waiver wire in more leagues. Managers that have Hachimura on the roster will just have to keep looking for any updates on his ankle.
Washington Wizards forward/center Kristaps Porzingis exploded for a career-high 41 points in Monday's 142-127 victory over Minnesota. The bucket was like an ocean for him as Porzingis shot 12-for-18 from the field with a 6-for-10 record from outside. He was perfect at the foul line with 11 attempts and capped off the night with four rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks. This was a comfortable victory for the Wizards in a high-scoring affair and Porzingis ended up playing for just 31 minutes, so he could've easily gotten near the 50-point mark if the game had stayed competitive. His previous career-best scoring night came back in his New York days in November 2017. This could end up being a very fruitful week for Porzingis, as Washington now faces Brooklyn, Charlotte and the Lakers, three teams that are vulnerable defensively.
Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal led the team with 30 points in Sunday's 130-121 loss to Boston, adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 35 minutes on the court. He failed to hit from deep but shot a very solid 11-for-19 overall from the field and was 8-for-9 at the foul line. Beal also registered two turnovers in the contest. This was one of Beal's best games of the season and only the second time in 2022-23 that he was able to reach the 30-point plateau. The three-time All-Star has averaged fewer than 24 points per game this season, but his production has improved in November, and Washington's star man has enjoyed a bit of a scoring surge lately, going for 25-plus points in five straight contests. He is well set up to keep up his improved form, as the Wizards start a favorable run of games Monday against the pacy Timberwolves.
Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal suffered a quadriceps injury in Sunday's 106-102 win over Charlotte. He had a great performance with 26 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals, but was injured in the final seconds of the game. Head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said that Beal will be re-evaluated on Monday. This was only his third game back from health and safety protocols, so being forced to spend even more time on the sidelines would definitely hurt Beal. With Monte Morris (ankle) also dealing with an injury, Jordan Goodwin could start to run the backcourt and there should be more minutes available for Will Barton. However, with Washington being off until Wednesday, Morris and Beal have some good time to recover and might be able to play.
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma had a strong outing against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. He logged 28 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists as he shot 55.6% from the floor and 50% from three. The 27-year-old was key in the team's tenth win of the season. Over this past week, he's been inching closer to a top-100 fantasy asset as well. Averages of 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game are something that fantasy managers won't complain about.
