John Wall’s first Clippers start likely to come against Wizards
John Wall’s first start as a Clipper looks like it will come in familiar surroundings.
Wall is in line to make his first start of the season on Saturday against his former Washington Wizards team after the Clippers ruled starting point guard Reggie Jackson out for rest. Jackson is one of just three Clippers who has played in all 27 games this season.
Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, has played in Washington once since the Wizards traded him to the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook in December 2020, but this will be his first game playing in front of fans at Capital One Arena as an opponent. Wall had 29 points and 11 assists in the Rockets’ 131-119 loss to the Wizards on Feb. 15, 2021, but there were no fans in attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Wizards gave their former franchise point guard a video tribute during that 2021 game, but because there were no fans to see it and thank him in person another tribute is reportedly planned for Saturday.
Wall, who grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, was very involved and popular in the D.C. community. He has not played in front of the Washington fans since Dec. 16, 2018, after he played just 32 games during the 2018-19 season and then missed the entire 2019-20 season after surgeries on his left heel and Achilles. Wall had an infection from the procedure on his heel that Wall has said nearly led to having his foot amputated.
After agreeing to a buyout with the Rockets and signing with the Clippers in July, Wall has come off the bench in all of his 21 games this season, averaging 12.6 points and 5.8 assists in 22 minutes per game. The Clippers have monitored his playing time and held him out of one game of any back-to-back sets after he played in just 40 games over the previous three seasons. He sat out all of last season when the Rockets had committed to rebuilding.
Clippers guard Norman Powell (strained left groin) will miss his sixth consecutive game Saturday, while swingman Terance Mann (concussion protocol) is questionable.
All-Stars Kawhi Leonard – who has missed 20 of 27 games this season after missing all of last season following July 2021 knee surgery – and Paul George were not listed on the injury report and are expected to play.
CLIPPERS AT WIZARDS
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena
TV/radio: Bally Sports SoCal/570 AM