4 Takeaways from the Washington Wizards 119-118 win over the Dallas Mavericks

The Washington Wizards need Thomas Bryant healthy

The Washington Wizards already lost Thomas Bryant for an extended period this season. 20 games to be exact. And it looks like he could miss another extended period of time with a foot injury. He did not play against Dallas.

However, Bryant had just gotten back in his groove before his latest sidelining, or so it seemed. In his four games before this injury absence, Bryant had stat lines of:

• 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks vs Golden State
• 17 points, 10 rebounds vs Brooklyn
• 21 points, 8 rebounds vs Charlotte
• 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists vs Milwaukee

Unfortunately, the Wizards won’t be getting any more games like that for the foreseeable future, and the felt Bryant’s absence vs the Mavericks. Without their best rebounder, the Wizards lost the battle on the boards 49-39. Without Bryant on the floor, Davis Bertans became the team’s leading rebounder for the night. He finished the game with eight rebounds.

The Wizards were also outscored in the paint, allowing the Mavericks to pour in 46 of their 118 points from there. On non-three point attempts, the Mavericks shot 51 percent. Now Thomas Bryant many not be an extraordinary rim protector, nor is he the next Charles Barkley on the glass, but he’s better on the court than he is on the sidelines.