The Washington Wizards will have to play Game 4 of their first-round series against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday without center Nene after he was suspended by the league office following his game 3 altercation with Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler.
The incident happened in the fourth quarter when Nene bumped into Butler after a fast break. Although Butler appeared to cause minimal contact with him, the center head-butted and grabbed the guard around the neck and seemed to attempt to throw him down. He was ejected from the game which the Wizards lost, 100-97. Nene made just five out of 15 field goal attempts during the said game.
His absence means the Wizards will lose their most potent offensive player in the paint, and one of the main reasons why the team is surprisingly up two games to one over the favored Bulls. He is averaging 17 points on 53% field goal shooting and six rebounds a game for the Wizards in three games this postseason.
Wizards coach Randy Wittman however sounded unalarmed with the suspension of his big man, saying via CSN Washington: "We're more than capable with who we have on this team. That can happen to anyone. Somebody can come in sick tomorrow. I know it sounds cliche but that's the way it is."
With his absence, the Wizards may have to look for help from veteran Drew Gooden, a late-season pickup or from Trevor Booker, who started for the team for 21 games after Nene was out with a left knee ligament strain.
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