Four days after Charlotte beat them on the glass, the Hornets come to Capital One Arena short-handed. It's AJ Dybantsa's home debut and the start of the Wizards' NBA Cup run (@WashWizards).
Washington led 76-63 early in the third on a Dybantsa alley-oop from Kyshawn George, then Cleveland came back. The Wizards were up 105-104 before the Cavs ran off nine straight (AP recap). It's now 17 straight Cavs wins over Washington.
The No. 1 pick started at shooting guard and led Washington with 19, including nine in the first quarter. Per Sportradar via AP, that's the most first-quarter points by a Wizards rookie in his debut since at least 1996-97.
Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr scored 18 apiece and Bilal Coulibaly had 17 on 8-of-9. George had 11 assists. But Cleveland won the boards 47-27 (15 offensive to 5) and Evan Mobley hit a career-high five threes on his way to 24.
Brandon Miller torched Washington for 39 four days ago. He had 31 and 12 in Wednesday's 97-89 loss at Detroit but missed five of seven shots in the fourth, and Charlotte turned it over 25 times (AP recap). Miller averages 25.6 points (ESPN).
The overnight league report has Coby White (left calf strain) and Grant Williams (right hamstring strain) out, Kon Knueppel listed out on G League assignment, and Dennis Schröder questionable with right foot soreness. Greg Finberg's take: "Can't drop two games to a depleted Hornets team" (post).
| Team | Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAS | Tre Johnson | QUESTIONABLE | Right Achilles soreness/tightness |
| WAS | Justin Champagnie | OUT | Right foot surgery |
| WAS | Tristan Vukčević | OUT | Left hip impingement |
| WAS | Jamir Watkins | OUT | Left ACL repair/surgery |
| CHA | Dennis Schröder | QUESTIONABLE | Right foot inflammation/soreness |
| CHA | Coby White | OUT | Left calf strain |
| CHA | Grant Williams | OUT | Right hamstring strain |
| CHA | Kon Knueppel | OUT | G League, on assignment |
| CHA | Kylan Boswell | OUT | G League two-way |
| CHA | Michael Ajayi | OUT | G League two-way |
Charlotte out-rebounded Washington 54-41 on Monday, and Cleveland won it 47-27 on Wednesday. Finberg says it starts with Sarr, Davis and Ayton (post), and 106.7 The Fan's crew says it's about effort (post).
Miller has 39 and 31 in his last two games. Without White and Knueppel, Charlotte has fewer places to go when he's covered.
The Hornets coughed it up 25 times in Detroit (AP). Washington scored 12 fast-break points in Cleveland; a sloppy Hornets night is a chance to run.
The Wizards went 8 of 32 from deep Wednesday, and Locked On Wizards says they're second-worst in the league in three-point percentage right now (post).
Home debut for the No. 1 pick. Dybantsa played 27 minutes in Cleveland, and 106.7 The Fan noted he didn't back down from guarding James Harden (post). His first NBA points came at the free-throw line, just like he called it (@WashWizards).
Charlotte's engine. With the Hornets this thin, Miller and Moussa Diabaté (9.4 rebounds a game, per ESPN) are the two to stop. Davis leads Washington at 21.8 points and 8.4 rebounds, and Trae Young averages 10.4 assists.
The Wizards have to be more active on the glass tonight. They take on the Hornets tonight in AJ Dybantsa's home debut
20 and 26 are too many: On Monday, the Wizards lost in Charlotte, 110-103, as the Hornets collected 20 offensive rebounds and scored 26 second-chance points. That was the game right there. All five Wizards players need to find a Hornet and box out, including on the Hornets’ 3-point tries.
Debuting in The District tonight 🧙♂️
Washington needs to find a way to limit Brandon Miller and put a body on Moussa Diabate.
Going to fun watching AJ’s home debut tonight, who’s going?
Big game for the Wizards tonight. Can’t drop two games to a depleted Hornets team.
Wiz have to be so much better on the glass, which starts with Sarr, Davis and Ayton. Can't allow 21 offensive rebounds and expect to win.
Good spot to improve to 3-3 in AJ Dybantsa’s home debut.
Here's a look at the Washington Wizards' 2026 NBA Cup court at Capital One Arena. The court will be in use for tonight's NBA Cup group stage game between the Hornets and Wizards.
📻 106.7 The Fan also had Greg Finberg saying Dybantsa's debut was even better than he imagined (post).
The books barely favor Washington, and Monday's loss is fresh. But Charlotte is missing White, Knueppel and Grant Williams, just turned it over 25 times in Detroit, and the Wizards have their No. 1 pick in front of the home crowd for the first time. Win the glass and this one tilts DC's way.
Our gut: Wizards win and cover the −1.5. Pure vibes; there's no model behind it.
📚 Previous issues: Wed Oct 28: Wizards at Cavaliers · Mon Oct 26: Wizards at Hornets · Sat Oct 24: Wizards at Bulls · Fri Oct 23: Raptors at Wizards