Andray Blatche Injury Update: Washington Wizards' Forward Says He'll Return Saturday Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Wizards will get forward Andray Blatche back in the lineup on Saturday when they square off against the Cleveland Cavaliers, at least according to Blatche himself. Blatche said Wednesday prior to the Wizards' game against the Orlando Magic that he will return from his calf injury then.

"Saturday feel like Christmas to me," he said. "You know how when you're a little kid, you can't wait for Saturday to come? I think it's gonna be a good game for me."

Blatche also said that he's ready to return even though he was being booed by fans prior to his injury.

"I am excited. I can't wait to get back on the court. It's been a long time," he said. "It's just, I don't know, it's just something that's a part of me."

Wizards coach Randy Wittman was a bit more cautious when speaking to the media, saying that Blatche will go through practice over the next couple days before a final decision is made. The Wizards are off for two days prior to facing the Cavaliers.

Blatche has not played since suffering the calf injury in a late-January win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

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Andray Blatche Injury Update: Blatche And Ronny Turiaf Expected Back After All-Star Break, According To Report

According to a report published by Washington Post Wizards insider Michael Lee, both Andray Blatche and Ronny Turiaf will be expected back after the all-star break.

Blatche has been recovering from a torn left calf muscle and has missed the last 12 games where the Wizards have gone 3-9. Trevor Booker has played well the last 12 games in replacement of Blatche grabbing at least seven rebounds in eight of the twelve games.

Turiaf was acquired by the Wizards at the start of training camp in a three team deal, but he has missed the last 29 games after breaking a bone in his left hand in the team's third game against the Boston Celtics. It was the same hand he injured in the offseason while participating for team France in the European Olympic qualifying tournament.

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Andray Blatche Injury Means Trevor Booker, Jan Vesely Need To Step Up

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With Andray Blatche's calf injury set to sideline him for 3-5 weeks, the Washington Wizards will need a pair of young forwards to step in and fill the void. First-round draft pick Jan Vesely, who has been starting in Blatche's place the last two games, and 2010 first-round pick Trevor Booker, who played well against the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday, will get the majority of the power forward minutes with Blatche sidelined.

"We're going to have to have other people continue to step up, as Vesely's done, as Book's done. Kevin [Seraphin] had some good stints. We just need to continue to do what we're doing," coach Randy Wittman said. "I'm not too worried about who's going to provide the scoring. As long as we keep playing together the way we have, that'll take care of itself."

Point guard John Wall echoed Wittman's sentiments that the loss will be tough to overcome, but said having Booker or Vesely in the lineup may help in other ways.

"[Blatche's absence] is not going to hurt spacing because you roll them into space. Now, you don't have somebody popping for jump shots. You have somebody who can roll and you can find them with a pocket pass," Wall said. "It can be tough, but sometimes, it can be easy. You just have to go with the flow of the game."

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Andray Blatche Injury: Wizards Forward Out Three To Five Weeks With Calf

Andray Blatche will miss up to five weeks dealing with a calf injury, according to Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman.

Andray Blatche Injury Update: Tightness In Calf Limits Washington Forward In Win Over Bobcats

The Washington Wizards won their first road game of the season Saturday night, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 102-99, and they did so with a minimal contribution from forward Andray Blatche, who left the game early with tightness in his calf.