Fresh off a 16-point win over Charlotte, the Wizards open a four-game week in Orlando. The Magic are 0-3 at home, playing their second game in two nights, and without Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and now Anthony Black. Washington is without starting big Alex Sarr (left knee).
Washington held Charlotte to 13 points in the third quarter and cruised on the first night of NBA Cup play. Trae Young had 21 points and nine assists, Anthony Davis had 25 and 13, and AJ Dybantsa scored 17 in his home debut, drawing an "MVP! MVP!" chant (AP recap).
Per NBA tracking data, Dybantsa had a game-high five deflections and held Brandon Miller and Naz Reid to a combined 1-of-11 in their matchups (Chase Hughes). Josh Robbins wrote that the home debut showed why Washington took him first overall (The Athletic).
The Hornets led by 10 in the first quarter, then made four of their next 29 threes and finished 12 of 56 from deep (AP). The glass is still a work in progress, though: Charlotte grabbed 18 offensive boards to Washington's 8. Bijan Todd noted the Wizards "really didn't look all that great for a good chunk of the game" (post).
Jayson Tatum scored 32 in Orlando on Sunday as the Magic fell to 0-3 at home. Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva scored 23 apiece, and Franz Wagner had 14 with a career-high 12 assists on 5-of-20 shooting. Banchero (high-ankle sprain) missed his fourth straight game (AP recap). Update: Black, who started Sunday, is out tonight (right ankle injury management), per the official injury report.
Update: Alex Sarr (left knee soreness) and Anthony Gill (low back spasms) were downgraded from questionable to out this afternoon (@WashWizards), and Reece Beekman (right AC joint) is also out. Sarr started Friday and played 29 minutes (box score). Off the court, Washington exercised fourth-year options on Sarr, Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington, and third-year options on Tre Johnson and Will Riley (@WashWizards).
| Team | Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAS | Alex Sarr | OUT | Left knee soreness (was questionable) |
| WAS | Anthony Gill | OUT | Low back spasms (was questionable) |
| WAS | Reece Beekman | OUT | Right AC joint injury (new) |
| WAS | Justin Champagnie | OUT | Right foot surgery |
| WAS | Tristan Vukčević | OUT | Left hip impingement |
| WAS | Jamir Watkins | OUT | Left ACL repair/surgery |
| ORL | Anthony Black | OUT | Right ankle injury management (new) |
| ORL | Paolo Banchero | OUT | Right high ankle sprain |
| ORL | Jalen Suggs | OUT | Right knee contusion / bone bruise |
| ORL | Jonathan Isaac | OUT | Left knee injury management |
| ORL | Noah Penda | OUT | Right partially torn hamstring |
| ORL | Izaiyah Nelson | OUT | Left ankle injury recovery |
Orlando played Boston on Sunday; Washington hasn't played since Friday. Push the pace early and make tired legs chase.
The Wizards trailed by 10 in the first quarter Friday before taking over. Bijan Todd's question for this one: "Will they fix sluggish offensive starts?" (post).
Wagner went 5 of 20 against Boston, and with Banchero, Suggs and now Black out, the Magic lean on him, da Silva and Desmond Bane. Josh Robbins' key: run Bane off the 3-point line, using the Miller template from Friday (post).
Charlotte still had 18 offensive boards Friday. Wendell Carter Jr. averages 8.8 rebounds for Orlando (ESPN), and with Sarr out, Davis and Deandre Ayton carry the load inside and need to stay out of foul trouble (Josh Robbins). SleeperWizards expects Davis to slide to the 5 and mostly alternate there with Ayton (post).
Second road game for the No. 1 pick. After his defense on Miller, expect Dybantsa to see time on Wagner, Orlando's leading scorer and passer (ESPN). 106.7 The Fan had him after Friday's win talking about playing alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis (post).
Washington's engine. Davis leads the Wizards at 22.3 points and 9.2 rebounds, and Young averages 10.2 assists (ESPN).
Update: Anthony Gill (low back spasms) and Alex Sarr (left knee soreness) are now out for tonight's matchup.
Key on Bane: Desmond Bane is the Magic’s most reliable 3-point shooter. The Wizards need to key on him and run him off the 3-point line with smart closeouts. … Avoid foul trouble: Alex Sarr (left knee soreness) and Anthony Gill (lower back spasms) will not play tonight because of their injuries. Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton will need to avoid foul trouble.
The Wizards are playing a Magic team without Banchero, Black, Isaac, Suggs or Penda.
Even without Sarr, Washington should at least make it competitive.
I’d expect to see AD slide to the 5 tonight and him and Ayton to mostly alternate there vs. playing together at any point.
Khris Middleton and Will Riley could see extended minutes with Anthony Gill, Justin Champagnie, and Tristan Vukcevic all out as well.
INJURY NEWS: Magic G Anthony Black (right ankle injury management) is listed OUT for tonight’s game vs. Wizards, per @NBAPR
Orlando also remains without starters Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee)
📻Today on Grant & Danny📻 … 🏀 Wizards on the Road at ORL
📣 The Wizards' pregame word: "Monday night hoops coming 🔜" this morning (@WashWizards) and "Back on the road 🚙" at 3 PM ET (@WashWizards). Bijan Todd's notebook for The District Standard: Sarr out Monday, team options exercised.
Orlando is favored at home, but the Magic haven't won there yet, they're on the second night of a back-to-back, and they're missing Banchero, Suggs and now Black. The Wizards come in rested and just held a team to 79. Losing Sarr thins the frontcourt, but Orlando's absences pile up too.
Our gut: Wizards win outright, so they cover the +2.5. Pure vibes; there's no model behind it.
📚 Previous issues: Fri Oct 30: Hornets at Wizards · Wed Oct 28: Wizards at Cavaliers · Mon Oct 26: Wizards at Hornets · Sat Oct 24: Wizards at Bulls · Fri Oct 23: Raptors at Wizards