Washington Wizards Rally Past New York Knicks 111-109 in Preseason Opener as Anthony Davis, Trae Young and AJ Dybantsa Impress
By Brian Hradsky
Maryland Sports Blog | NBA | October 9, 2026
Washington Wizards
111
1-0 preseason
Final
Oct. 8, 2026
New York Knicks
109
0-2 preseason
Madison Square Garden • New York, New York • Attendance: 17,960
The Washington Wizards opened their 2026 NBA preseason with an impressive 111-109 victory over the defending NBA champion New York Knicks on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Washington overcame a six-point halftime deficit and received encouraging performances from several key players, including newcomers Anthony Davis, Trae Young and rookie AJ Dybantsa. Davis led the Wizards with 16 points, while Young contributed 15 and Dybantsa added 11 in his preseason debut. Although preseason victories do not count toward the regular-season standings, Washington gave fans an early glimpse of a roster with considerably more talent and potential than in recent seasons.
The Wizards entered the matchup with plenty of attention surrounding their revamped roster, particularly the opportunity to see Davis and Young alongside the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. Washington’s combination of experienced All-Stars and developing young players presents an intriguing opportunity to accelerate the franchise’s rebuilding process. The Knicks provided a challenging opening opponent after winning the NBA championship, even with both teams experimenting with rotations and distributing playing time. Washington responded by shooting 46.5% from the field and 39.4% from three-point range while surviving 22 turnovers.
Quarter-by-quarter recap
| Quarter | Wizards | Knicks |
|---|---|---|
| First | 30 | 29 |
| Second | 27 | 34 |
| Third | 24 | 21 |
| Fourth | 30 | 25 |
| Final | 111 | 109 |
First quarter: Washington makes an early statement
Washington immediately demonstrated that its new lineup could generate offense against a championship-caliber opponent, scoring 30 points in the opening quarter. The Wizards received contributions from their veteran additions while Dybantsa began adjusting to NBA competition. Young provided the perimeter shooting and playmaking that Washington hopes will become a central part of its offense, while Davis gave the team another dependable scoring option. The Wizards finished the quarter holding a narrow 30-29 advantage, setting the stage for a competitive evening.
Second quarter: New York takes control
The Knicks responded with their strongest offensive quarter of the evening, outscoring Washington 34-27 to establish a 63-57 halftime lead. New York’s balanced attack created problems for the Wizards, who struggled to maintain their early defensive consistency. Washington nevertheless received several encouraging individual plays, including a strong drive to the basket from Dybantsa and a transition assist from the rookie to Bilal Coulibaly. The Wizards entered halftime trailing by six points but remained within striking distance.
Third quarter: Wizards begin their comeback
Washington began turning the momentum after halftime, limiting New York to 21 points while scoring 24 of its own. The Wizards tightened their defense and gradually reduced a deficit that had reached double digits during the game. Their improved execution helped prevent the Knicks from establishing complete control, even as Washington continued rotating players throughout the lineup. By the end of the third quarter, New York’s advantage had been reduced to 84-81, leaving the outcome undecided entering the final 12 minutes.
Fourth quarter: Washington finishes the job
The Wizards delivered their strongest closing stretch, outscoring New York 30-25 in the fourth quarter to secure the two-point victory. Will Riley supplied an important go-ahead floater that helped shift momentum toward Washington as the teams battled for control. The Wizards’ supporting cast helped finish the comeback after Davis and Young had already demonstrated their scoring ability earlier in the contest. Washington ultimately held on for the 111-109 victory, an encouraging result against the defending champions in its first preseason appearance.
Washington’s new stars deliver promising performances
Anthony Davis leads the offense
Davis made an immediate impact in his Washington preseason debut, scoring a team-high 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting while collecting seven rebounds and two assists. The veteran forward also connected on two of his three attempts from beyond the arc and contributed a blocked shot in just 16 minutes and 46 seconds. His ability to score both inside and from the perimeter gives Washington a versatile offensive weapon capable of creating difficult matchups. Perhaps the most encouraging development was simply seeing Davis back on the court after an injury-interrupted 2025-26 season, during which he appeared in only 20 games.
Trae Young provides much-needed perimeter shooting
Young also made an encouraging first impression, finishing with 15 points, four assists and two steals in just over 17 minutes. He shot 4-of-7 from the field and connected on three of his six attempts from three-point range, demonstrating the long-distance shooting ability that made him one of the league’s recognizable offensive guards. His presence should help Washington create more opportunities for Davis, Dybantsa and the team’s other young players by forcing opposing defenses to respect his shooting range. The biggest question moving forward will be how quickly Young develops chemistry with Washington’s frontcourt and adjusts to sharing offensive responsibilities with the team’s other scoring options.
AJ Dybantsa shows why Washington selected him first overall
Dybantsa’s highly anticipated preseason debut offered plenty of reasons for optimism, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. The rookie finished with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and four steals while shooting 5-of-11 from the field in just over 23 minutes. Although he missed all three of his three-point attempts and converted only one of three free throws, his defensive activity and ability to attack the basket stood out. His four steals led both teams, and his performance suggested that he could contribute in multiple areas while continuing to develop his offensive game.
Supporting cast makes a difference
Washington received several valuable performances beyond its three headline players, including 12 points apiece from Justin Champagnie and Kyshawn George. George also recorded seven rebounds and five assists, providing one of the team’s most complete statistical performances of the evening. Bub Carrington contributed 11 points, while Deandre Ayton collected a team-high 10 rebounds in just over 17 minutes. The Wizards’ depth was particularly important as the coaching staff evaluated different combinations and gave younger players opportunities to contribute.
One of the more encouraging statistics was Washington’s 53 total rebounds compared with New York’s 47. The Wizards also made 13 three-pointers, two more than the Knicks, despite attempting five fewer shots from beyond the arc. However, Washington committed 22 turnovers compared with New York’s 15, an area that will require improvement before the regular season. The Wizards demonstrated enough offensive talent to overcome those mistakes Thursday, but stronger opponents will likely punish that many wasted possessions.
Knicks receive balanced production in defeat
New York had three players finish with 13 points, as Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Landry Shamet shared the team scoring lead. Hart added six rebounds and three assists, while Shamet connected on three of his four attempts from beyond the arc. OG Anunoby contributed 10 points and five rebounds, and Andre Drummond provided eight points, nine rebounds and four assists. The Knicks received contributions throughout their rotation but could not match Washington’s fourth-quarter scoring.
New York also struggled from three-point range, converting just 11 of its 38 attempts for 28.9%. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with eight points on 2-of-7 shooting, while Mikal Bridges managed only two points on 1-of-6 shooting. The Knicks remain an experienced, talented team, and preseason shooting struggles should not be overemphasized. Nevertheless, Washington deserves credit for overcoming New York’s strong second quarter and closing the game more effectively.
Key player statistics
PTS = Points | REB = Rebounds | AST = Assists | STL = Steals
| Washington Wizards | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Trae Young | 15 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Kyshawn George | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Justin Champagnie | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| AJ Dybantsa | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Bub Carrington | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Deandre Ayton | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| New York Knicks | PTS | REB | AST | STL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 13 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Josh Hart | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Landry Shamet | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| OG Anunoby | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Andre Drummond | 8 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
Selected leaders from the October 8 box score.
What’s next for Washington?
The Wizards will return home Saturday, October 10, to face the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. ET in their second preseason game. That matchup will provide another opportunity to evaluate the chemistry between Washington’s veteran additions and its young core. The coaching staff will also have a chance to address the turnover problems that surfaced against New York while continuing to experiment with lineups. Most importantly, Washington will look to build on the confidence gained from defeating the defending NBA champions.
MSB Take: Wizards finally have reasons for excitement
Washington fans have endured several difficult seasons, but this roster offers considerably more reasons for optimism than previous rebuilding groups. The additions of Davis and Young provide established offensive talent, while Dybantsa gives the organization a young player with legitimate star potential. George, Carrington and the rest of the developing core add depth to a team that could become increasingly competitive as its chemistry improves. One preseason victory does not establish Washington as a playoff contender, but beating the defending champions at Madison Square Garden is certainly an encouraging beginning.
The most impressive aspect of Thursday’s victory was not necessarily the final score, but the variety of ways Washington found contributions throughout its lineup. Davis demonstrated his scoring versatility, Young supplied perimeter shooting, and Dybantsa showed defensive instincts that could make him an immediate contributor. Washington still needs to improve its ball security and establish consistent defensive execution, particularly when its younger players are on the floor. If the Wizards can make those improvements while keeping their key players healthy, the 2026-27 season could represent a meaningful step forward for the franchise.
Sources: NBA official game summary, ESPN box score, Sports Illustrated box score, and Bullets Forever game recap.
