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Wizards vs. Mavericks preview: Washington returns home to face Dallas after ugly loss in Detroit

After a Beal-less Wizards were blown out by 29 against 14–win Pistons, the team hopes home confines will spark the offense.

NBA: Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Game Info

When: Saturday, April 3 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

How to watch: NBC Sports Washington

Injury Report

Wizards: Bradley Beal (Hip, Questionable); Daniel Gifford (Ankle, Out); Thomas Bryant (Knee, Out)

Mavericks: Willie Cauley-Stein (COVID-19 protocols, Day-to-day); JJ Reddick (heel, Day-to-day); Tyrell Terry (personal, Day-to-day)

Pregame notes

Following yet another defeat, a 120–91 loss to the Detroit Pistons, on Thursday evening, the Washington Wizards (17–30) travel back to the nation’s capital ahead of a matchup vs. the Mavericks (25–21). Satruday’s contest will be the first meeting between the two sides — the Wizards travel to American Airlines Center on May 1.

The 29-point drubbing suffered against Detroit was the team’s third consecutive game without All-Star Bradley Beal, who is nursing a right hip contusion; It’s uncertain when Beal will rejoin the squad though he was a game time decision yesterday. Without the league’s leading scorer, Washington has gone 1–2, earning a victory versus the Indiana Pacers but falling to the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons by a combined score of 39 points.

In Beal’s absence, Russell Westbrook has notched three straight triple-doubles, averaging 24.3 points, 15.7 rebounds and 13.3 assists during that span. On Monday night against Indiana, Westbrook became the first player in NBA history to log a 35-point, 20-assist triple-double. Westbrook now has a franchise-record 18 triple-doubles in just 40 games played for the Wizards, but he can't be the only player generating offense for Washington.

With Beal out, Rui Hachimura has upped his offensive output, erupting to equal a career-high 30 points in the loss to Charlotte. The second-year forward also added 26 when the team defeated the Pacers. Aside from Westbrook and Hachimura, the third scorer each of the last three games has been a different player. To earn a win against a talented Dallas side this weekend, Washington will need more on the offensive end because they certainly won't get it done on the defensive side of the ball.