LOS ANGELES, CA (AP) -- Andray Blatche was held out of the Washington Wizards' game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night due to a bruised hip.
Coach Flip Saunders' leading scorer was replaced in the starting lineup by Yi Jianlian, who made his first start for his new team.
Blatche is averaging career bests of 17.1 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Wizards. He was hurt in Sunday's loss at Phoenix while scoring 24 points, and the resulting cramps and swelling kept him out of the lineup at Staples Center.
"He tried to stretch a little bit out here, but he just can't get up and down with it," Saunders said. "It affects you because he's one of our most intelligent guys up front. When you're playing the Lakers, it's important to have the intelligence to know coverages, especially defending so many concepts against their triangle offense."
Gilbert Arenas replaced Kirk Hinrich and Al Thornton took over for Alonzo Gee in the starting lineup for the Wizards, who have lost seven straight to the Lakers.
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