Washington Wizards Blog – Page 33 – NBA Blog

Wizards notes: November 12, 2014

Washington will face Detroit tonight at Verizon Center. The Wizards and Pistons split the 2013-14 season series 2-2. Washington hasn’t won a season series against Detroit since the 2005-06 season when they swept the Pistons 3-0.

With a win tonight the Wizards would improve to 6-2 which would mark their first 6-2 start since the 1975-76 season.

With a win over the Pistons, the Wizards would improve 3-0 at home for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

John Wall averaged 25.8 points and 8.6 assists in four games against Detroit last season.

Wall is averaging 2.8 steals in his last five games.

Paul Pierce recorded his 4,500 career assist in Saturday’s win over Indiana.

Pierce has averaged 21.1 points per game in 52 career games against Detroit.

Wizards notes: Home opener tonight

Wizards notes: Home opener tonight

The Wizards will host the Milwaukee Bucks tonight in their home opener at Verizon Center. Both teams have a 1-1 record. The Wizards won the 2013-14 season series against the Bucks 3-1 with two of the four games going into overtime.

Washington is 30-23 (.566) all-time in home openers.

John Wall has tallied two consecutive double-doubles in the first two games of the season, marking the first time he has achieved this feat in his career.

With Wall’s stat line on Thursday night in Orlando, he is just the fourth player in franchise history to record a game with at least 30 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and two steals, joining Gilbert Arenas, Michael Adams and Rod Strickland (2).

Entertainer Wale, will be performing live tonight as part of pregame player introductions. Wale has been announced as the Wizards’ Creative Liaison.

Wizards waive Damion James, John Lucas, Xavier Silas

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived forward Damion James and guards John Lucas and Xavier Silas.

NBA preseason ended Friday, and the regular season begins Tuesday, October 28. The maximum number of players teams are allowed to have on their regular season roster is 15, and that’s how many the Wizards have after today’s move.

The Wizards have lots of potential for a solid season on paper, though they will begin their 2014-15 campaign while shooting guard Bradley Beal heals from injury.

Wizards 2014-15 alternate jerseys

The Washington Wizards today unveiled images of their new 2014-15 alternate uniform which is primarily navy blue with red color-blocking at the top and “Washington” listed on the front while the navy shorts feature the secondary “Monument” logo.

The Wizards will wear these navy alternate 2014-15 jerseys for every road game played on a Wednesday as well as at home on Dec. 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers and on Mar. 25 when they face the Indiana Pacers.

Fans will also have a chance to see the team wear their red road jerseys at home on Nov. 21 against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Apr. 3 against the New York Knicks.

Wizards sign guard John Lucas

The Washington Wizards have signed guard John Lucas, President Ernie Grunfeld announced today.

In six seasons with Houston, Chicago, Toronto and Utah, Lucas has appeared in 216 career regular season games (eight starts) while averaging 4.8 points and 1.4 assists in 12.2 minutes. Last season, Lucas appeared in 42 games with Utah and averaged 3.8 points and 1.0 assists in 14.1 minutes.

Lucas was undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2005. He originally signed as a free agent with Houston on December 9, 2005.

Bradley Beal injury: broken wrist

Bradley Beal suffers injury: broken wrist

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal underwent an MRI exam today that revealed a non-displaced fracture of the scaphoid bone in his left (non-shooting) wrist that will require surgery.

The injury occurred during the first quarter of Washington’s preseason game against Charlotte in Greenville, SC, on October 10.

A timeline for Beal’s recovery will be announced following his surgery.

Kris Humphries finger injury: out 3-4 weeks

Wizards forward Kris Humphries underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair nerve damage in his right small finger. Humphries lacerated his hand on the rim, between his fourth and fifth phalanxes (small and ring finger), in the second quarter of Washington’s preseason game at Chicago on 10/6. The procedure was performed by Dr. Richard Barth.

Humphries is expected to miss three to four weeks before resuming basketball activity.

Four Wizards players suspended one game for leaving bench during altercation

Washington Wizards players DeJuan Blair, Nene, Daniel Orton and Xavier Silas were suspended one game for leaving the bench area during an altercation between Chicago Bulls’ center Joakim Noah and Washington Wizards’ forward Paul Pierce.

Additionally, Noah has been fined $15,000 for initiating an altercation with Pierce by pushing him in the chest and Pierce has been fined $15,000 for hitting Noah in the forehead with his left index finger, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 8:57 remaining in the first quarter of the Wizards’ 85-81 win over the Bulls on Monday, October 6, at United Center.

The suspensions will be served during the first regular season game for which each player is eligible and physically able to play.

Wizards waive Vander Blue and David Stockton

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived guards Vander Blue and David Stockton.

The Wizards’ roster now stands at 18.

Bradley Beal says Wizards have best backcourt in NBA

Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting from Monday’s Wizards Media Day:

“I think we’re definitely the best back court in the league,” Beal declared at his team’s Media Day at Verizon Center Monday. “Just in terms of what we’re capable of doing, the confidence that we have in that. At the same time we got to prove it.”

Beal and Wall have a case. They are the Wizards’ cornerstone players and led the team to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004-05 last spring.

Wall, 24, enjoyed the breakout season many have been waiting for since he was drafted first over all in 2010, becoming an all-star for the first time and leading the NBA in total assists.