The Charlotte Hornets received some unwelcomed news on Saturday, as rookie P.J. Washington has been ruled out for the team’s next five games with a fractured finger. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Washington sustained the injury during the Hornets’ 83-73 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. The rookie fractured the fifth metacarpal on his right hand during the fourth quarter of the contest.
Along with second-year man Devonte’ Graham, Washington has been one of the few bright spots in Charlotte this season, as the rookie has started all 28 contests for the Hornets before being ruled out for Sunday’s game. He enters play on Dec. 14 having averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, connecting on 41 percent of his 3-point looks to this point.
Charlotte Hornets rookie F P.J. Washington is expected to be sidelined through Christmas with fractured finger, league sources tell ESPN. The Hornets play five games in that stretch. He's averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 14, 2019
Without Washington, the Hornets will be challenged, as the club will have to look elsewhere to fill the minutes and repetitions left in his stead.
Fortunately for the Hornets, Washington — based on Wojnarowski’s reporting — could return to action prior to the beginning of 2020. For what it’s worth, Washington’s injury was to his pinky finger, but being that the former Kentucky Wildcat shoots with his right hand, it doesn’t bode as positive news.
The Hornets will thus be shorthanded when they tip-off against Indiana on Sunday.