John Wall sits out Game 4, still no timetable for return

The Washington Wizards are left to hope that their Game 3 performance without John Wall is repeatable.

Wall will sit out Game 4 against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, as the five fractures in his left hand and wrist continue to prevent him from dribbling. Wall had officially been called a game-time decision, but he wasn't expected to play, and there's still no timetable for his return.

After getting rolled without Wall in Game 2 - he finished their Game 1 victory despite suffering the injury early on - the Wizards played surprisingly well in Game 3, opening up a sizable lead against the Hawks. The Hawks' reserve unit eventually caught fire and tied the game, requiring some Paul Pierce heroics to close things out and leaving some doubt about Washington's ability to compete without their star point guard.

That's not to say they're doomed, much as it may have seemed so when he first suffered the injury. The Hawks are shooting at an unsustainably poor rate that should correct eventually, but Atlanta has also lost the handle on its team defense, allowing Washington to score freely even without Wall's otherworldly offensive creation for himself and teammates.

Ramon Sessions is a fine attacker but a poor shooter and a terrible defender, and he managed just eight points in Game 3 after a 21-point outing in Game 2. More of the offensive burden has fallen on Bradley Beal. He's averaging 21.7 points in the series and has 15 assists over the last two games, helping buoy the offense despite some trouble finishing when he gets into the teeth of the defense.

No matter how the others play, Washington is on shaky footing without their star. Wall has averaged 17.4 points and a league-leading 12.6 assists through five playoff games, and the Wizards perform a full 10 points better per-100 possessions with the All-Star on the court.

They may be able to survive and even win another game against Atlanta; they have that vibe about them right now and the Hawks are struggling. But losing Wall for each individual game is an enormous blow, even if he has quickly become one of the most entertaining spectators in the sport.