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Greg Finberg: Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis) is available for tonight’s game vs. Detroit. Bilal Coulibaly (right retrocalcaneal bursitis) is out.
Josh Robbins: The Wizards have listed Alex Sarr as out for what they've labelled as right hamstring injury management on Monday against the Warriors on the first night of a back-to-back. Also out: Anthony Davis, Kyshawn George, D'Angelo Russell, Cam Whitmore and Leaky Black.
Among the things to be happy about was how Young and center Alex Sarr ran the pick-and-roll and connected on a pair of lobs from Young that ended with Sarr baskets. In just his third game with the Wizards, on a minutes restriction of approximately 21 minutes, Young finished with 15 points and six assists. Sarr had 16 points and five blocks, also with a minutes restriction. “I’m definitely getting used to playing with him, seeing pick-and-roll angles,” Sarr said. “We’re just working, getting extra reps right now. That’s very valuable.” Still, the stretch run late in the fourth quarter is what made Washington’s players optimistic, providing a Band-Aid to what happened in Miami. “People can laugh about us now,” Young said. “In the future, I don’t think people are going to be laughing about us.”
Josh Robbins: Alex Sarr is expected to play 16 to 20 minutes tonight, Wizards coach Brian Keefe said a short while ago. Sarr is set to play for the first time since Feb. 8, so he is on a minutes restriction.
Washington funnels drivers to him. No one contests more shots at the rim than Alex Sarr does, 8.8 per game, two more than anyone else in the league. The guys atop the NBA in that stat tend to play plenty of drop coverage. They sag into the paint and wait for drivers to approach. Yet Sarr doesn’t fit that description. On top of scrambling every which way, trying to make up for porous perimeter defenders, which juices the numbers, Sarr is creating contests out of nowhere. He’s an aggressive helper. He’s blocking more shots than ever. He’s allowing only 55 percent shooting on dunks and layups when he is the closest defender, a massive leap from his rookie season, according to Second Spectrum.
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Josh Robbins: Speaking here in Atlanta before tonight's game, Wizards coach Brian Keefe said the hope is that Trae Young will participate in "more team activities" on the court after the team returns to Washington. Keefe said that Alex Sarr is "a little further behind" than Young in rejoining team activities.
In his recent appearance on Monumental Sports Network, new Washington Wizards star Anthony Davis offered high hopes and optimism about his looming frontcourt partnership with Alex Sarr. "I feel like I've always been very successful with another big. The good thing about Alex is that he can space the floor, and on the defensive end it's going to be insane," Davis said about Sarr. "Being able to guard the pick and rolls, switch on guards and guard them, rim protection — I think he's second in the league in blocks right now, blocks per game. He's young, so he's only going to get better. "I just hope that the wisdom that I've learned from the greats I've been around — Dwight [Howard], JaVale McGee, Tyson Chandler, Marc Gasol — all the guys that helped me can carry over to help them as well."
Josh Robbins: The Wizards' decision to sign Tristan Vukcevic to a three-year deal creates big-man depth behind Alex Sarr and Anthony Davis for 2026-27. But even with the Vukcevic move, the Wizards could add another big during the offseason to serve as the primary big-man backup.
Have you gotten the chance to talk to Anthony Davis since the trade? Alex Sarr: No, not yet. I know he’s been in DC, but we were out of town, but I know I’ll connect with him right after the All-Star break. I was talking to your GM, Will Dawkins, earlier about how you and AD have similar prototypes: tall, lanky, can shoot. What do you feel like in terms of him being there, playing alongside you? Alex Sarr: Yeah, I mean, it's great. You know, I think it's a lot of stuff I can learn from him defensively, offensively. I think we can play off of each other. He attracts a lot of attention. So, you know, he's going to allow me to play off the ball, and on the ball too sometimes. So, you know, I'm just excited.
Since acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis, have you been this excited since getting drafted by the Wizards? Alex Sarr: Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm very, very excited. Obviously, you know, we have a very good young group and now we're adding, you know, those two big-time players. So, you know, it's just exciting getting to share the court with them, learn stuff from them, and get to compete. Have you seen with the city of DC, have the fans taken more of an interest in this? Alex Sarr: I mean, I definitely see it like on social media, you know, just the interest is definitely growing. You know, people realize that we're building something and, you know, it's exciting for sure.
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Shams Charania: Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr has sustained a right hamstring strain and will miss approximately two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Sarr, one of three players averaging at least 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game this season, is now out for Friday's Rising Stars game.
Alex Sarr: I feel like I haven’t made a lot of 3-pointers off the dribble. It’s something I’m working on, and I’m trying to grow in my game, too, to become even more of a threat. But it’s definitely something I want to get better at. … I have, obviously, a lot of freedom. But it just comes with playing the right way. I feel I know what shot is good or bad for our offense, what shot is good or bad for me based on my percentages and where I’m good on the floor. I just try to get to those spots. Obviously, if I take a messed-up shot, Coach will tell me about it, and I’ll go back and understand how much time is left on the clock, why I shouldn’t take that shot.
Adam Caporn, Wizards assistant coach: Alex Sarr has really improved as a screener, something we’re always trying to get better at. But when he misses the first screen, he re-screens, and with Bub (Carrington)’s ability to shoot the ball off the dribble, that creates a lot of attention. … Alex just reads his closeout and just attacks. It’s subtle, but I think last year, he didn’t attack with as much ferocity — and understandably. He’s still developing physically. He’s trying to read the defense. There’s a lot going on in the NBA. Against size and length, it’s difficult.
Washington Wizards: Update: Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr, and Tristan Vukcevic have been upgraded to available for tonight's game. Anthony Gill (right hand contusion) is now out.
