AJ Dybantsa may not be ready when the Wizards open the regular season. The No. 1 overall pick left Friday's preseason finale at New Orleans after rolling his ankle in the second quarter. Hoops Rumors, citing ESPN, said there is "some uncertainty" about whether he will play Wednesday at home against Milwaukee.
ESPN's own report said he hurt the ankle on an awkward landing and will undergo further evaluation. USA TODAY, in the Yahoo Sports version, said the extent of the injury has not been disclosed. Sportsnet called it a sprain. None of the summaries we have includes a diagnosis, imaging results or a timeline, so the sprain label is Sportsnet's and not confirmed elsewhere. Hoops Rumors' summary cuts off just as it gets to coach Brian Keefe, so we can't say what he told reporters.
He was playing well before he got hurt. In the 107-106 loss to the Pelicans, he scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including 1-of-3 from three, in 15 minutes. He also had two rebounds and a block. That was his most efficient game of the preseason. Across four games he scored 11, 14, 14 and 12 points, and his minutes went 23, 25, 23 and then 15 before he left Friday.
Washington's preseason record is 2-2, and the team has lost two straight. It beat Detroit 114-108 on Oct. 10, then lost 131-122 to Brooklyn on Oct. 12 and by a point in New Orleans. Washington led for only about 4 percent of Friday's game, and its biggest lead was four points. It also had 23 turnovers to the Pelicans' 16.
The next update to watch is Keefe's word on Dybantsa's status and any evaluation results before Milwaukee visits on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
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