Bradley Beal’s Season Ends; Kerr Shakes Up Warriors Lineup; Kidd Addresses Mavericks Turmoil
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Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers confirmed Wednesday that guard Bradley Beal will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a hip fracture, an injury team president Lawrence Frank said is unrelated to the knee issues that sidelined him earlier in the year. Beal underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in May, spent parts of training camp in recovery, and opened the season on a minutes restriction. The hip injury occurred during the second quarter of Saturday’s game against Phoenix.
Frank told reporters doctors “are extremely optimistic” about a full recovery and believe the hiatus could also ease Beal’s lingering knee inflammation. Agent Mark Bartelstein offered a similar outlook, noting the 30-year-old was close to having his minutes limit lifted before the setback. Beal appeared in six games for Los Angeles and now faces a six-to-nine-month rehabilitation timeline.
Warriors
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr followed through on his warning of changes by removing forward Jonathan Kuminga from the starting lineup Wednesday in San Antonio. The Warriors, who had dropped five of their previous seven and six straight on the road, responded with a 125-120 victory.
Kuminga had started the first 12 contests this season, but Kerr opted for a new group featuring rookie Will Richard alongside Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. Richard, limited to 10 career appearances, earned the promotion with efficient perimeter shooting. Green’s post-game comments Tuesday in Oklahoma City about “personal agendas” hovered over the decision, though Kerr insisted the move was about lineup chemistry, not individual blame. Kuminga is averaging nearly 15 points and seven rebounds but has battled turnover issues during the recent skid.
Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd expressed hope that Tuesday’s dismissal of general manager Nico Harrison will calm the atmosphere at American Airlines Center. Crowd chants of “Fire Nico,” prompted by Harrison’s trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, had become a regular occurrence—even during possessions, Kidd said—leaving players feeling disrespected.
Kidd referenced last spring’s injury-plagued run to the play-in tournament and noted this season’s similar hurdles: Anthony Davis missed his seventh consecutive game Wednesday with a calf strain, and Kyrie Irving remains out following ACL surgery. “We’ve got over $100 million sitting on the sideline, and we’re still competing,” the coach said, while voicing confidence in newly appointed co-interim GMs Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi.
Source: Hoops Wire
