DALLAS — In a troubling turn of events, Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington exited Saturday night’s game against the Houston Rockets due to an apparent injury. During the second quarter, the team confirmed that Washington suffered a right ankle sprain and would not return to the game.
This season has already seen Washington grappling with various injury concerns. The Mavericks remain hopeful that the ankle sprain will not sideline him for an extended period, but as of now, a timeline for his recovery has not been disclosed.
At 27 years old, Washington has been an integral part of the Mavericks’ lineup, averaging 15.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game prior to the injury. Notably, despite facing injury challenges, he has participated in 29 of the Mavericks’ 35 games before Saturday.
As the game continued, Dallas entered halftime with a narrow lead of 57-50 against the Rockets, who are in a solid third position in the Western Conference with a record of 21-10. A victory over such a formidable opponent would provide a significant morale boost for the Mavericks, who currently sit at 12-23, 13th in the conference standings. The team has shown resilience, often engaging in competitive contests, but has struggled with consistency.
With another half of basketball to play, the Mavericks will need to rally without Washington, a key starter in their rotation. The team’s ability to secure a win against their Western Conference rival will prove challenging but remains a possibility.
We will keep fans updated on PJ Washington’s injury status as more information becomes available.