Wizards' Beal not participating in NBA restart due to shoulder injury

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal is skipping the NBA's restart due to a right rotator cuff injury, the team announced Tuesday.

"Bradley did everything possible to be ready to play, but after closely monitoring his individual workouts, we came to the conclusion that it was best for him to sit out the upcoming games in Orlando and avoid the risk of further injury," Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said.

Sheppard added that Beal played through "the majority" of the season with the ailment. The 27-year-old still managed to average career highs in points (30.5) and assists (6.1) per game in 57 contests this season.

"This was a difficult decision and one that I did not take lightly as the leader of this team," Beal said. "I wanted to help my teammates compete for a playoff spot in Orlando but also understand that this will be best for all of us in the long term."

John Wall remains sidelined with a torn Achilles and Davis Bertans opted out of the restart, so Washington will rely on an unheralded group of players led by rookie Rui Hachimura and veteran Ish Smith.

The Wizards held a record of 24-40 before the season was postponed, good for ninth in the Eastern Conference. They trail the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic by 5 1/2 games and the No. 7 seed Brooklyn Nets by six games.