Wizards star Bradley Beal out Saturday vs. Magic after death of grandmother
Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal learned of the death of his maternal grandmother after the team touched down Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's game at the Cleveland Cavaliers, a matchup Washington won 97-94 to improve to 8-3 on the NBA season. Beal nevertheless took the court and recorded 13 points, seven assists and seven rebounds but admitted after the fact his mind understandably was elsewhere.
As Chase Hughes wrote for NBC Sports Washington, Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. confirmed Friday that Beal won't play in at least Saturday's matchup at the 3-9 Orlando Magic so he can mourn his loss. Beal's status for Monday's home contest versus the slumping New Orleans Pelicans (1-11) is unknown at this time, but logic suggests Washington could do without the 28-year-old also for that game.
"He was not here at [practice] today," Unseld said of Beal. "Obviously, we know the situation and understand where he is. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. I understand the gravity of the situation is very difficult to process."
According to ESPN stats, Beal leads the Wizards in scoring with 23.3 points per game, and he's also averaging 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds with a 16.29 player efficiency rating. Hughes adds that Raul Neto could replace Beal in the lineup on Saturday.
Neto is averaging 8.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest.
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