Washington Wizards vs New Orleans Pelicans: preview and player stats

The Wizards announced Thursday that Watkins has undergone surgery for a torn ACL. Watkins, a two-way player for the Wizards, suffered the injury during the Summer League. Although Washington has yet to offer a timetable for a return, a typical recovery time for the procedure is approximately 9-to-12 months. That leaves Watkins in serious jeopardy of missing most, if not all, of the 2026-27 season, and it remains to be seen if the team will continue keeping him around on a two-way roster spot while he's injured.

Champagnie (foot) is expected to miss several months, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic. The forward underwent surgery Wednesday to address a fractured foot, and the Wizards hope Champagnie will be ready to return at some time around the All-Star break in February. The likes of Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington will all be asked to help pick up the slack for the foreseeable future.

Vukcevic (hip) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Detroit. Vukcevic has yet to make his season debut due to a left hip impingement. The big man can be viewed as week-to-week until the Wizards provide an update on his progress.

The Wizards announced Monday that Beekman sustained a right acromioclavicular joint injury and will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks. Beekman is set for an extended absence, with his re-evaluation timeline suggesting he could remain sidelined beyond the initial three-week window. The injury further limits Washington's backcourt depth, though Beekman's absence is unlikely to have a significant impact on standard fantasy leagues.

Murphy (knee) is listed as out for Wednesday's game against the Nets. Murphy will miss a second consecutive game due to a knee issue. His next opportunity to get back on the court will come Friday against the Grizzlies. While Murphy remains on the shelf Wednesday, Saddiq Bey could stay in the starting lineup.

Missi (knee) is out for Friday's game against Minnesota. Missi has been sidelined since picking up his injury Oct. 23. He remains without a timetable to return.

Mathurin has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Nets due to a right thumb sprain. Mathurin wasn't listed on the initial injury report, and the extent of the issue remains unclear. While he's not a major part of the regular rotation, Mathurin, Trey Murphy and Trendon Watford are all expected to be unavailable Wednesday, opening the door for Saddiq Bey, Herbert Jones and potentially Jordan Poole to play more minutes.

Watford (ankle) is out for Wednesday's game against the Nets. Watford continues to nurse a right ankle sprain. The forward lacks a concrete timetable for a return to the floor.