The Washington Wizards announced on Thursday that Bradley Beal will miss at least the next three games with a hamstring strain.
With one week until his re-evaluation, he will officially miss next Wednesday’s meeting with the Bulls in DC.
The Bulls and Wizards have already met twice this season, splitting the games 1-1. Chicago’s lone victory also happened to come in a game where Beal did not dress. The team’s “Big 3” of Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan combined for an impressive 77 points, 25 rebounds, and 12 assists.
The absence of Beal could prove to be a particularly big deal when we consider the current standings. Chicago sits just a half-game ahead of D.C. for the final Play-In Tournament spot, which means this could be an opportunity to create more of a cushion. Not to mention, if these two squads stay in lockstep, gaining the advantage in the regular season series could prove pivotal for seeding at the end of the year. After next Wednesday’s game, the two will play one more time in Chicago on Feb. 26.