The Washington Wizards already have one preseason win in the bank, and now they get a different kind of test at Capital One Arena on Friday night against the Detroit Pistons.
Washington opened the preseason by beating the New York Knicks, and while there were the expected bumps, the night also gave the Wizards plenty to feel good about. Anthony Davis was on pace for 30 points and 14 rebounds after playing only the first half, Trae Young showed more of an off-ball role, Kyshawn George was tracking toward a triple-double, and AJ Dybantsa stepped in without hesitation and looked comfortable right away.
That said, the first game also showed where the rough edges still are. The bench had its issues, with Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson both taking time to shake off the rust.
Detroit comes in with one preseason game of its own under its belt after edging the Phoenix Suns 109-107. The biggest name to watch remains Cade Cunningham, and if George or Dybantsa can do enough to slow him down, Washington can make the Pistons work for everything they get on offense.
The matchup may also come down to where Detroit can create clean looks. The Pistons don’t bring a ton of shooting or spacing, with Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Joe standing out as the main perimeter threats.
Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson aren’t known as prolific three-point shooters, either. If the Wizards can protect the paint and force Detroit to live on the outside, that tilts things Washington’s way.
Washington’s injury report lists Khris Middleton as a game-time decision for rest, Alex Sarr as a game-time decision with a foot issue, Tristan Vukcevic out with a hip injury, and Jamir Watkins out with an ACL tear.
Detroit’s listed starters are Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, John Collins and Paul Reed. Washington’s projected starters are Trae Young, AJ Dybantsa, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton.
The game is set for 7 PM EST at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, and it will be shown on Monumental Sports Network. The game line has the Wizards at +3.5, with the total at 220.5 and Washington on the moneyline at +154.
In Other News...
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Cam Whitmores path this fall has already turned into a reminder of how quickly the NBA can shift on a young player. Washington moved him to Cleveland, Cleveland waived him without bringing him back, and Denver then stepped in with a two-way contract, giving the former Wizards piece a fresh chance to reset his trajectory. For a player still trying to establish himself, the new landing spot has already looked a lot more stable.
Whitmore has shown encouraging signs in Nuggets training camp and preseason action, with the kind of energy and confidence that can make a staff lean in. Denvers head coach has singled out the effort and growth, especially on defense, which matters for a player trying to carve out a real role. For Washington, it is at least a little awkward to watch a young talent start to look more settled just after leaving, and it leaves open the question of how much more he might have had to offer in a different setting. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Davis Just Sparked A Chicago Legacy Debate Wizards Fans Will Notice
Anthony Davis recently used an appearance on the Numbers On The Board podcast to stir up a familiar kind of basketball argument, offering his own Mount Rushmore of Chicago players and explaining the criteria behind it. The discussion leaned heavily on high school roots and the paths those players took to the NBA, which made for an especially interesting list given how much Chicago hoops history can be debated from one neighborhood to the next.
The conversation also carried extra weight because several of the names he discussed have dealt with major injury issues over the years, a reminder of how much talent and adversity can be wrapped into one citys basketball story. For Wizards fans, the topic lands with added intrigue because Davis own future remains unsettled, so even a lighthearted ranking from a current NBA star ends up feeling connected to a bigger question about where his next chapter will unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Kyshawn George May Be Giving The Wizards An Answer They Need
Kyshawn Georges preseason debut offered the kind of early glimpse Washington has been hoping to see from a young wing trying to carve out a bigger role. He looked more comfortable as a passer, flashed the kind of timing that can open up an offense, and also showed progress as an off-ball scorer by finding space and knocking down shots in rhythm.
For a Wizards group still searching for reliable help in the backcourt and on the wing, that matters. Georges ability to make quick decisions and keep the ball moving could become more valuable if Washington is forced to navigate stretches without Trae Young, and his growth gives the team another possible answer in a rotation that still has plenty to sort out. [Read more 🡒]