DCist took in the Wizards impressive victory over the league leading Phoenix Suns on Saturday night at the MCI Center and left the arena feeling good about the immediate future of our new basketball powerhouse. That, however, came to an abrupt end on Sunday morning when we read the news that possible All Star Larry Hughes would miss four to six weeks with a fractured thumb on his shooting hand. The immediate returns from the Wiz were less than impressive after their 28 point loss yesterday in San Antonio. Hopefully the Wiz can bounce back tonight in Dallas against the Mavericks.

Injuries are nothing new to Hughes, who missed 21 games last year. So what will the team do without him? Ex-turtle Juan Dixon started in his place yesterday (on the back of his 26 point performance against the Suns) and scored 10 points while pulling down a team high six rebounds. Gilbert Arenas will also have to shoulder more of the playmaking load while maintaining his scoring average, no easy feat. He scored a season low three points yesterday. Combine that with Antawn Jamison’s six point stinker and we present to you the end of the club’s seven game winning streak.

“Larry knows we miss him,” Jamison said. “He means a lot to this team. We’re missing an all-star. We’ve got to find a way to fill the void until he gets back.” Hughes is the only player in the NBA to average over 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and 2.5 steals per game this year. Until he returns, the Wiz will have to prove themselves to the league all over again.

(Photo by John McDonnell – The Washington Post)