Wizards coach Randy Wittman: John Wall’s injury ‘heading in the right direction’

Despite five (!) non-displaced fractures in his wrist and hand, John Wall apparently considered playing Game 3 of the Wizards-Hawks series.

He ultimately couldn’t – the Wizards won anyway – but it’s clear: What initially sounded like a season-ending injury isn’t necessarily a season-ending injury.

Wizards coach Randy Wittman, via J. Michael of CSN Washington:

“Good. Swelling, again, down,” Wittman said when asked if his All-Star point guard had done anything on the practice court following Saturday’s Game 3 win. “Its heading in the right direction so again we’re not to the point of him doing anything on the floor yet or of that nature. It’s heading to a situation where hopefully he can get the ball in his hand, get the feeling, see how that feels and then you take those steps like that.”

“There’s still some in there. That’ s the No. 1 thing,” Wittman said of the swelling. “Before we move anywhere else, before he does anything down there with a ball, he’s got to get that out of there. There’s no sense is in trying to do anything with a ball while it’s swollen.”

Game 4 is at 7 p.m. tonight, and if I had to guess, Wall won’t play.

But I also would have guessed he’d definitely miss the rest of the season once he was diagnosed with five (!) fractures.

Wall is a serious competitor, and he’ll do everything he can to get back on the court before Washington’s run ends. Wittman has said he’ll value Wall’s long-term health over immediate contributions, which is absolutely the right mindset.

Even with that approach, though, Wittman might face a tough call at some point.