Beal: Wizards fighting to postpone Friday's game vs. Bucks

Editor's note: The NBA announced later Wednesday the game is postponed, citing "the number of unavailable players for the Wizards, contact tracing for the other players on their roster, and the length of time preceding the game during which the team was unable to practice."

Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards want the NBA to push back Friday's contest versus the Milwaukee Bucks in the interest of player safety.

The Wizards have seen their last five games postponed for failing to meet the eight-player minimum after several members of the team were forced to enter the league's health and safety protocols.

Friday's scheduled tilt in Milwaukee would mark the Wizards' return to action after an 11-day hiatus, though Beal insists the team is fighting the league on it, according to The Athletic's Fred Katz.

Beal and Co. were only permitted to return to practice on Wednesday, and with eight players ruled out for the game - six of whom are missing due to protocols - Beal's concerned the team hasn't had enough time to prepare.

"That's just a recipe for injury, honestly," the league's leading scorer said.

Beal's Wizards were part of the largely successful bubble environment staged in Florida to complete the 2019-20 season. The nine-year pro is of two minds with how the current campaign is playing out.

"It's mixed emotions, mixed feelings," Beal said. "A lot of guys wanna play, they wanna earn their checks. ... But at the same time, this virus is the most important thing.

"I just wanna hoop. Hoopers hoop," Beal added when asked if he'd prefer playing in a bubble.

Beal, who is the Wizards' union rep, said he and teammate Russell Westbrook will speak with NBPA executive director Michele Roberts about the risks of playing Friday.