Jamison strains right knee in Dallas loss

October 7, 11:34 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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With the Wizards' best player in Gilbert Arenas out as long as December, and rising-star center Brendan Haywood updated to as long as 4-6 months, the last thing Washington needed heading in to their first preseason match-up against the Dallas Mavericks was another name on the injured reserve list.  Unfortunately for Washington, it would take less than five and a half minutes into the first quarter to hear the unthinkable.

Antawn Jamison positioned himself defensively against Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, and as Dirk moved baseline to tight-rope the out-of-bounds line, Jamison looked as if he slipped, and then his right knee buckled.  While Dirk blew by to finish with a dunk, Jamison was left on the floor in anguishing pain as he clutched his right knee.  Jamison was not able to walk off the court by himself and was assisted by teammates to the locker room.  He would not return for the night, and the severity of the injury is unknown at this point.  The official word right now is a "strained right knee," while earlier the injury was classified as a "sprained right knee."

Haywood's wrist, once thought to have him out one or two weeks, might now take him 4-6 months depending on if he has to have surgery performed.  He will visit New York City tomorrow for a second opinion.  With three starters possibly out for large chunks of the early season, Coach Eddie Jordan will have to battle some huge odds, which might jeopardize his four-year postseason streak.