Wizards’ Wall has fractures in hand
John Wall has five nondisplaced fractures in his left wrist and hand, and the All- Star guard’s playing status has not been determined.
Wall was hurt in Game 1 of Washington’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks. Initial X- rays were negative, but “multiple examinations” Wednesday revealed the injuries, the Wizards announced Thursday.
Washington hosts Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday. The topseeded Hawks won Game 2 to even the series at 1- 1.
“Obviously, not the news you want to hear,” Washington head coach Randy Wittman said. “With the swelling, we knew maybe there was not good news there. We’re still consulting with doctors. It’s still pretty swollen.” Butler is most improved: Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player after making his first All- Star team and averaging a career high in scoring ( 20 points a game).
Butler, 25, received 92 of 129 first- place votes and 535 total points from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Draymond Green of the Warriors ( 11 first- place votes, 200 points) was second and Rudy Gobert of the Jazz ( 12 first- place votes, 189 points) finished third. Cavs’ video controversy: The Cavaliers apologized for a video parody that showed a man violently throwing a woman across a room for wearing a Chicago Bulls T- shirt.
During a timeout in Cleveland’s win Wednesday night, the team showed a video on its scoreboard spoofing a popular TV commercial for United Healthcare in which a couple fall while attempting the famous lift from “Dirty Dancing.”
In the Cavs’ version, the male Cleveland fan lifts his partner then tosses her over a sofa, saying: “Bulls fan? I didn’t know you were a Bulls fan.” Later, the woman is shown holding an ice pack on her head and saying: “Well, I’m all- in now,” a nod to Cleveland’s playoff motto.
The Cavs released a statement Thursday in which they said they regretted their actions.
“While the video was not intended to be offensive, it was a mistake to include content that made light of domestic violence,” it said. “We sincerely apologize to those who have been affected by domestic violence for the obvious negative feelings caused by being exposed to this insensitive video.” Briefly: Chris Paul worked out on the court, a positive sign in his struggle to overcome a strained left hamstring, though it’s not known whether he can play for the Clippers in Game 3 against Houston. The teams are tied 1- 1. Paul missed both games. ... Iman Shumpert, who started the first two games of Cleveland’s semifinal series against Chicago for suspended guard J. R. Smith, could miss Friday night’s Game 3 with a strained left groin.