WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Washington Wizards guard Tyronn Lue was placed on the injured list Friday with a separated left shoulder, leaving the team short in the backcourt.
In another move Friday, the Wizards waived forward Brian Cardinal.
Lue suffered the injury in Thursday's home overtime win over the Houston Rockets. The speedy 6-foot guard was trying to make a hustle play midway through the fourth quarter when Rockets 6-7 guard Juaquin Hawkins fell on him.
Hawkins landed on Lue's upper body, slamming Lue's head against the hardwood and compressing his shoulder. Lue, who also suffered a gash over his left eye, was diagnosed with a Grade I separation.
After the game, Wizards Coach Doug Collins said Lue would be sidelined until at least Wednesday, while Lue believed he would play in Washington's next game Saturday.
Neither were right as Lue will miss a minimum of five games.
"Hopefully, Tyronn will recover quickly from this and return to the lineup as soon as possible as he has played very well over the last week," Wizards General Manager Wes Unseld said.
In his fifth season and second with the Wizards, Lue is averaging 8.0 points and 3.1 assists in 57 games.
With guard Larry Hughes also sidelined, Lue's injury leaves the team with just three guards -- Michael Jordan, Jerry Stackhouse and rookie Juan Dixon. Collins indicated Thursday the Wizards would sign a player from a minor league.
Cardinal was acquired in the deal that brought Stackhouse from the Detroit Pistons. The 2000 second-round pick played just five games this season.
"By waiving Brian, he will now have the ability to clear waivers in time to be eligible for a playoff roster with another team," Unseld said.
Cardinal was acquired from the Detroit Pistons along with Jerry Stackhouse and Ratko Varda on Sept. 11, 2002. He played in five games with the Wizards this season.
During the 2001-02 season with Detroit, Cardinal, who played collegiately at Purdue, appeared in eight games averaging 2.1 points and 0.8 rebounds in 5.4 minutes per game. He was drafted by Detroit in the second round, 44th overall, in the 2000 NBA Draft.
