Kyle Kuzma is experiencing some “legitimate discomfort” in his right knee, but Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said Sunday the team has no plans to shut down the forward for the rest of the season.
Kuzma missed his fifth straight game Sunday when the Wizards took on the Golden State Warriors. The 26-year-old was originally a late scratch March 19 against the Los Angeles Lakers with “right knee tendinitis” and has been out since.
Unseld said then that he believed Kuzma’s knee issue was relatively minor, disclosing that he believed Kuzma would be back the following game. But on Sunday, Unseld told reporters that Kuzma suffered a setback during the recovery process that “inflamed” the injury further.
“I know he wants to be out there, and we just have gotta make sure that it’s nothing more serious than what it is,” Unseld said. “He’s working through it. I think what set him back was he probably worked out a little too aggressively and I think that inflamed it a bit.
“We’ll just list him as day-to-day, but there is full intention of him coming back and playing if he can. “
Time is running out. The Wizards only have eight games left after facing the Warriors.
Acquired over the summer from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the Russell Westbrook trade, Kuzma has emerged as a reliable scorer for Washington. He’s averaged 17.1 points per game, ranking third behind Bradley Beal (23.1) and Kristaps Porzingis (21.2). Kuzma’s 8.5 rebounds per game are also a career high.
Washington has started third-year forward Rui Hachimura in Kuzma’s place.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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