Beal hoping to make return to Wizards lineup Friday
Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal has watched his team lose five straight games from the sidelines and he's hoping to return Friday from a stress reaction in his right leg, according to Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post.
The Wizards, to put it mildly, need a healthy Beal. Paul Pierce, the other half of the team's starting wings, missed Wednesday's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves with a bruised knee.
Washington's problems go beyond the most recent losing streak. The Wizards have lost 12 of their last 16 games and have dropped to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, only a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks.
More immediately however, sharpshooter Beal's absence is felt by the fact the Wizards have shot only 21-of-90 – a 23.3 percent clip – from deep during the five-game losing streak.
Beal's stress reaction injury is the third one the Florida product has dealt with in three seasons, although this particular fibula reaction is reportedly the least serious. He only played in 42 games in his 2012-13 rookie season.
Beal told Castillo earlier this week that he is pain-free and said Wednesday he hopes to play against the Philadelphia 76ers.