But the knee discomfort persisted Sunday. He tried various treatments and pills over the next 24-plus hours but nothing alleviated the ailment and when he arrived to United Center Monday evening he decided couldn’t play. The Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls without him, 114-100, but Gortat is a pivotal piece for them as they navigate their schedule with a shorthanded roster and the fear is he has an infection.

“We don’t know,” Wizards Coach Randy Wittman said. “We got to get him to the hospital when we land and give him some IVs and try to get the fluids running through him. I don’t know if it’s a staph infection. He had a small cut on his knee from diving on the floor and something got in there. It swelled up and he had a high temperature last night so we know it’s an infection of some type.”

AD

AD

Monday’s absence was just Gortat’s second because of injury since the Wizards acquired him from the Phoenix Suns just before the start of the 2013-14 season. He missed three last month to travel his native Poland for a personal matter. Gortat, 31, is in the second year of a five-year, $60 million contract. He has compiled 17 double-doubles and is averaging 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds this season.

Nene started – and starred – in Gortat’s place with 14 points on 7 for 11 shooting. Drew Gooden III added 12 points and 10 rebounds and DeJuan Blair scored eight points as backup centers. But Gooden and Nene are coming off calf injuries and their minutes are limited, while Blair has been unreliable since signing with the Wizards. Gortat, on the other hand, has been one of Washington’s most consistent and reliable cogs.

“We rearranged some things already,” Gortat said. “We’ll see what’s going to happen in D.C. I’m still taking different pills so the next 24 hours will show what’s going on. Hopefully I’m going to feel better tomorrow. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get myself ready for the next game.”

Up next