The Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets both come into this preseason meeting without a blemish, but that changes tonight. One of these 2-0 starts is about to disappear at Capital One Arena, where the Wizards host the Nets at 7 PM EST.
Washington enters with the feel of a team that’s carrying more firepower than it did a year ago. Trae Young should be available after getting ejected in the previous game against the Detroit Pistons, and there has been no word of a fine or suspension. Based on that silence, the All-Star guard is expected to suit up again, and he has already been central to the offense with the way his creation and playmaking have elevated the group.
AJ Dybantsa has also kept trending up every night, and the defensive end has not been a problem for him. Anthony Davis is still controlling the boards, which has helped Washington in the rebounding battle. Alex Sarr is back as well, and this matchup gives him a chance to bounce back after his injury absence.
Brooklyn brings a different look, with Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle leading the way. They’re both productive players, though more in the mold of strong second options than true top dogs. Porter Jr. gives them a dangerous shooting threat from deep, while Randle can muscle his way to points when the offense needs a tough bucket.
The Nets are also leaning into youth, and Egor Demin has the clearest path to a breakout preseason run. He’s putting up nearly 10 points and five assists per game so far, and his shooting numbers have been efficient. Even so, Brooklyn’s young core is still being measured against Washington’s, and this looks like a spot where the Wizards’ bench could have the edge.
Brooklyn’s injury report lists Mikel Brown Jr. as a game-time decision with an ankle issue, Michael Porter Jr. as a game-time decision with a wrist injury, Joshua Jefferson as a game-time decision with a back issue, and Day'Ron Sharpe as a game-time decision with a shoulder injury.
For Washington, Khris Middleton and Tre Mann are game-time decisions due to rest, while Tristan Vukcevic is out with a hip injury and Jamir Watkins is out with an ACL tear.
The projected Nets group includes Egor Demin, Keon Ellis, Julius Randle, Noah Clowney, and Moritz Wagner. Washington’s projected lineup features Trae Young, AJ Dybantsa, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis, and Alex Sarr.
The Wizards are listed as 3.5-point favorites, with the total set at 222.5 and Washington at -142 on the moneyline.
In Other News...
Anthony Davis Is Already Stirring Reactions Before His Wizards Debut
Anthony Davis has not played a minute for the Washington Wizards yet, but he is already giving the team a little extra buzz. The Chicago native and longtime Packers fan took to Instagram with a challenge tied to the Packers-Bears game, setting off the sort of social-media back-and-forth that only an NFC North rivalry can produce. Bears fans noticed, and the comments quickly turned into playful ribbing over the game and the familiar split loyalties that come with being from Chicago.
The exchange had a little more edge after Green Bay's win, with one Bears receiver stepping in to answer Davis directly and push the trash talk a step further. For Wizards fans, it is a reminder that Davis arrives with plenty of personality attached to his name, and his season opener on October 21 will come with a bit of added attention well before he ever settles into a Washington uniform. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Young Core Is Starting To Force A Tough Rotation Call
The Wizards preseason is already starting to look like a sorting exercise, with Washington leaning on a group of recent draft picks and young talent that has been piling up over the last few years. In the win over Detroit, the rookie class and the newer faces around the roster gave the team another look at what this next phase could become, as Felix Okpara continued to draw attention and the group around AJ Dybantsa and Anthony Davis kept working into defined roles.
Justin Champagnie also stayed in the mix as one of the more dependable pieces in Washingtons early camp picture, which is where the rotation question gets interesting. The Wizards used a tight group for much of the first half, and that kind of early-season compression tends to put pressure on the fringes fast, especially when younger players keep making enough of an impression to force the coaching staff to think twice about who belongs in the nightly mix. [Read more 🡒]
Felix Okpara Is Giving The Wizards A Frontcourt Decision To Make
The Wizards have spent the early part of the post-draft process introducing their newest rookies, and Felix Okpara has already given them something to think about. In limited preseason minutes, the young big man flashed the kind of athleticism and defensive activity that can make a team pay attention fast, and it showed up in a win over the Detroit Pistons as Washington continued sorting through a crowded frontcourt.
Okpara is still not viewed as an immediate rotation piece, which is no surprise on a roster with more established size ahead of him. Even so, he has looked like the sort of developmental addition who can make a case with every clean rebound, rim contest and extra possession, and the next step may be finding the right balance between patience and opportunity as he works his way through the G League. [Read more 🡒]