Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Miami Heat due to contact tracing exposure to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. NBA insider Shams Charania was the first to report.
Tatum tested positive for COVID-19 a day after the Celtics defeated the Wizards Friday night. Beal and Tatum are close friends dating back to their childhood growing up in St. Louis, Missouri.
Beal and Tatum embraced before and after Friday night’s contest.
Tatum is the latest of several close calls for the Wizards surrounding COVID-19. Chicago Bulls forward Chandler Hutchinson tested positive for COVID-19 and had to be left behind in Washington, DC after the Bulls played the Wizards on Dec. 31. Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant was placed in quarantine due to close contact a day after playing the Wizards on Jan. 3. Then on Wednesday, Philadelphia 76ers Seth Curry tested positive one day after playing the Wizards.
Beal’s absence is huge for the Wizards, who have a 2-7 record this season. However, his absence is looms more because starting point guard Russell Westbrook is also out against the Heat due to an oblique injury.
Jerome Robinson will start in Beal’s place. Raul Neto will start for Westbrook.
Beal leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 35.0 points per game. He scored 41 against the Celtics a game after dropping a career-high 60 points against the Philadelphia 76ers.
