Anthony Davis scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his Washington debut on Wednesday night, teaming up with Trae Young to lead the revamped Wizards past the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116 in the NBA season opener at Capital One Arena.
For the first time since acquiring both stars last season, the Washington Wizards had Anthony Davis and Trae Young on the floor together for a regular-season game. The result offered a glimpse of potential for a franchise that has managed just 50 wins total over the past three seasons, thrilling a home crowd that broke out into MVP
chants before the first quarter had even ended.
🏀 WEDNESDAY'S FINAL SCORES 🏀Anthony Davis scores 34 PTS to tie Antawn Jamison for most points in a Wizards debut as the @WashWizards win their season opener!Trae Young: 20 PTS, 13 AST, 2 STLKyshawn George: 18 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST pic.twitter.com/tg9A8MjwPe
Anthony Davis Dominates in His Long-Awaited Wizards Debut
Before Wednesday, Davis had not played in an NBA game since January, when he was with the Dallas Mavericks. He missed the entirety of last season following a trade to Washington due to injuries. The layoff did little to slow him down as he poured in 10 points and six rebounds during an opening eight-minute stint and added 18 points in the third quarter alone, tying Antawn Jamison’s 2004 franchise mark for the most points scored in a Wizards debut.
It felt great. It’s been nine months since I played a real game, so it felt really good to be out on the floor and compete again with these guys – even better when you can get the win. I had so much fun tonight. A lot of emotion, a lot of energy.
Anthony Davis WENT OFF in his Wizards debut!🧙♂️ 34 PTS (game-high)🧙♂️ 12 REB (game-high)🧙♂️ 4 AST🧙♂️ 2 STLWashington picks up the win at home 👏 pic.twitter.com/raQ8neXbuM
Davis finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds. Twice during the game, fans inside the arena serenaded him with chants of M-V-P, M-V-P,
a sentiment shared by his backcourt partner.
I want to help him get the MVP. Nights like tonight, and we continue to win games, he’s going to be in the conversation.
Trae Young Orchestrates the Offense and Secures a Fourth-Quarter Surge
Young played a few games with Washington last season, but not with Davis. While his perimeter shot deserted him as he missed all six of his 3-point attempts, Young anchored the floor with 20 points and 13 assists while committing just a single turnover.
Milwaukee controlled the boards and carried a 56-51 lead into halftime, maintaining the advantage through the third quarter. But Washington flipped the script in the final frame. The Wizards outscored the Bucks 38-23 in the fourth quarter according to league reporting, fueled by a decisive 21-4 run that turned a deficit into a comfortable double-digit cushion.
Strong fourth-quarter defense and execution allowed the team to pull away after shooting 63% from the field in the second half, outscoring Milwaukee 77-60 over the final two quarters.
Supporting Cast Steps Up Around the Star Duo
Eight Washington players scored at least eight points, showcasing the balanced offensive approach deployed by head coach Brian Keefe. Kyshawn George contributed 18 points on efficient shooting, while Bilal Coulibaly added 11 points and four steals. Coulibaly drew the start on the wing after his rookie extension window closed earlier in the week without a new deal.
MVP chants from Washington's faithful for AD 🗣️Anthony Davis is off to a hot start in his Wizards debut! https://t.co/N6Rk6JTFdY pic.twitter.com/dbRXhxID07
Deandre Ayton and Bub Carrington provided critical sparks off the bench. Carrington, a third-year guard, scored 10 points and kept possessions alive during key stretches alongside the team’s veteran core.
Injuries and Roster Shifts Shape Both Franchises
The Wizards played without rookie AJ Dybantsa, the top overall draft pick who missed the opener due to a sprained left ankle sustained in the team’s final preseason game against New Orleans. Keefe listed Dybantsa as day-to-day ahead of Friday’s home matchup against the Toronto Raptors.
Across the floor, the Milwaukee Bucks officially commenced life after Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was traded in the offseason. Under new head coach Taylor Jenkins, the visitors leaned on Tyler Herro—who scored a team-high 24 points—and Jaime Jaquez Jr., who added 22 points. Both players arrived in Milwaukee as part of the blockbuster deal with Miami.