| | WASHINGTON -- Point guard Rod Strickland was yanked from the Washington Wizards' starting lineup for undisclosed reasons 45
minutes before Wednesday night's game against the Seattle
Supersonics.
Earlier in the day, Washington announced that shooting guard
Mitch Richmond would miss Wednesday's game because of a sore left knee. Richmond is expected to be ready for Friday's home game against Miami.
| |  | |
| Strickland |
Rookie Richard Hamilton, the seventh overall pick in June's NBA
draft, started in place of Richmond, while Chris Whitney was
inserted for Strickland.
Wes Unseld, Washington's executive vice president and general
manager, said Strickland was removed from the starting lineup
following a decision by Wizards coach Gar Heard. Unseld would not
elaborate on the move.
Strickland was unavailable for comment. The decision was
announced after the team's dressing room was closed to reporters
following pregame interviews.
Heard inserted Strickland into the game with 6:24 remaining in
the first quarter and Seattle leading 15-8. Strickland's first
shot, a layup attempt beneath the basket, was blocked by Vin Baker.
Strickland scored four points in the first quarter on 2-for-3
shooting. He had no assists.
Strickland and Richmond's struggles this season have mirrored
the Wizards' 1-3 start. Strickland, who averaged 17.1 points per
game entering this season, is averaging only 12.3 through four
games. Richmond, who is averaging 10.8 points per game, has
connected only 37 percent of his field goal attempts. | |
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