WASHINGTON -- Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas has a torn ligament in his left knee, the latest setback for a last-place team already without Gilbert Arenas, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson.
The Wizards said Tuesday that Thomas will be sidelined indefinitely and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. He was injured in the first quarter of Monday night's 97-91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Thomas, who missed all of last season while recovering from open heart surgery, was expected to move back into the starting spot after Haywood tore a wrist ligament during preseason. Instead, Thomas has been on and off the bench, playing in 26 of 37 games with seven starts. He is averaging 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.8 minutes for the Wizards, who are 7-30.
Arenas has yet to play this season after knee surgery in September, and Haywood might not return at all this season. Stevenson has been sidelined for two weeks with a bad back.
Andray Blatche has settled into the rotation as the starting center in recent weeks. With Thomas out, rookie JaVale McGee will likely be the primary backup.