Wizards will rest Pierce vs. Knicks

Paul Pierce will sit out Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks for rest, the Washington Wizards announced.

Youngster Otto Porter Jr. will start in the veteran's place at small forward.

The Wizards, who enter Wednesday's contest fourth in the Eastern Conference at 23-11, can afford to rest players against the league-worst 5-32 Knicks, especially with Carmelo Anthony sitting out.

The move serves as a small victory for Knicks fans, however, who have watched Pierce dominate their team for his entire career.

Pierce is averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his first season with the Wizards. Porter is averaging 5.7 points and three rebounds in just under 19 minutes per game, but the 21-year-old has shown some flashes of promise for Washington.