Wizards’ Wall unsure about availability for Game 3

WASHINGTON — John Wall doesn’t know if he will be available for the Washington Wizards’ next playoff game on Saturday or the remainder of the series with the Atlanta Hawks.

The All-Star point guard has five non-displaced fractures in his left wrist and hand. Wall said Friday the injury news announced the day before was “devastating. I was excited about playing.”

He added he isn’t sure whether he’ll play in Game 3 on Saturday.

“It depends on how my swelling and (if) all my pain goes away,” he said.

Wall was hurt in Game 1 of Washington’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks, but kept playing in the Wizards’ win. He sat out Game 2 as the Hawks evened the series.

The NBA playoff leader with 12.5 assists per game was a surprise inactive for Game 2. With his left wrist noticeably swollen, the point guard struggled with various drills during pregame warm-ups.

“It’s moving better, but there is still pain there,” Wall said. “I haven’t tried dribbling again. Probably will tomorrow.”

Ramon Sessions replaced Wall in the starting lineup for Game 2 and scored a team-high 21 points in the 106-90 loss. Washington trailed by five with six minutes remaining before the top-seeded Hawks pulled away.

“It’s the playoffs. You’re going to run into problems, ups and downs, injuries,” forward Otto Porter said. “Our mindset and game plan is the same. Going in and playing very aggressive, very confident.”

Wall acknowledged there is the possibility of additional injury if he plays.

“They’re behind me 100 percent,” he said of the team and his agent. “It’s just sitting back and thinking about comfortable I am in this situation.”

Speaking with reporters after practice, Wizards coach Randy Wittman brought up and angrily disputed a report that Wall clashed with the team’s medical staffers about the condition of his hand. Initial x-rays were negative, but further exams once the team returned to Washington revealed the fractures.