The Washington Wizards handled their business to open NBA Cup play, knocking off the Charlotte Hornets in a game that was tight through the first half before the second half turned into a rout. In a setting that should matter for a rebuilding team looking for playoff-style reps, Washington got exactly what it needed.
Trae Young was right in the middle of it all. He finished with 21 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and two steals in the Wizards’ 95-79 win, and even though the shot wasn’t dropping consistently, he still controlled the game as a distributor.
Young also spent plenty of time at the stripe, leading the team with 14 free throws and making 12 of them. The only blemish came late, when he started chasing that 10th assist and forced a few plays that led to turnovers.
Even with that, it was still a strong night for the guard who has been leading the league in assists this season.
AJ Dybantsa kept flashing why the hype is already building. In just his second career game, he put up 17 points and eight rebounds, and he did it with the kind of confidence that jumps off the screen.
The scoring is one thing, but the defense stood out even more. Coming in, that was supposed to be the question mark.
So far, he’s making a real case that he can hold his own on that end with his length and athleticism.
Bub Carrington also continues to make a case for bigger minutes. He was nearly spotless from the field, missing only one shot while scoring nine points and adding a few assists.
The perimeter shot has been there, and the defense has clearly taken a step forward. If there’s a next level for him to reach, it’s in the playmaking department.
With the backup point guard spot there to be claimed, Carrington has a clear path if he can sharpen that part of his game just a little more.
Tre Johnson, though, had a rougher night. He didn’t make a three-pointer, and that has become part of a bigger early-season struggle.
The issue isn’t just the missed shots. When the jumper isn’t falling, he isn’t doing enough elsewhere to stay on the floor comfortably.
Right now, he’s hovering around average on both defense and playmaking, which makes it hard to justify extended minutes if the shot isn’t there.
In Other News...
Anthony Davis Is Forcing A Much Bigger Wizards Decision
Anthony Davis has already given the Wizards plenty to think about, and not just because of the way he has fit on the floor. Since arriving from Dallas in a trade that cost Washington multiple draft picks, he has been steady and productive, averaging 22.3 points and 9.2 rebounds in his first six games with the team. For a franchise trying to build something more stable, that kind of early return has a way of changing the conversation fast.
The bigger question now is whether Washington wants to move quickly on a contract extension while Davis is still in the final guaranteed year of his deal, with a player option for the following season. The Wizards are weighing that decision against the reality that his presence has already raised the floor of the roster, and the longer he keeps producing like this, the more pressure there will be to make a long-term commitment. [Read more 🡒]
AJ Dybantsa Just Gave The Wizards A New Early Season Question
The Wizards have opened the year with a split in their first two home games, and even with the usual early-season rough edges there has been a reason for optimism. Rookie AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the recent draft, has looked like part of the answer right away, averaging 18 points through two contests while giving Washington a boost in transition and on the glass.
What makes his early impact especially interesting is how it fits into the broader shape of this roster. Brian Keefe has already pointed out the teams low volume of three-point attempts compared with opponents, and Washington has leaned into what it does best by finishing at the rim and getting to the line. Dybantsas presence only sharpens the question of how much more dangerous the Wizards can become if that interior pressure keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Need More Than AJ Dybantsa Momentum In NBA Cup Debut
AJ Dybantsa gave Washington a needed jolt in his NBA debut, and the rookies 19 points on efficient shooting offered a glimpse of the energy this roster has been searching for. But the Wizards are still sitting at 2-3 after back-to-back losses to Charlotte and Cleveland, and the bigger issue remains the same: they are not consistently winning the possession battle, especially on the glass, where the frontcourt has been stretched thin.
The timing makes the problem even harder to ignore with Justin Champagnie out after a foot fracture, leaving Washington with fewer answers in the rotation and less margin for error inside. The Wizards have shown they can get a spark from young talent, but until they find a way to rebound and hold up defensively against bigger scoring nights from opponents, the early momentum around Dybantsa will only tell part of the story. [Read more 🡒]