Washington Wizards Fall to New Orleans Pelicans 107-106 in Narrow Preseason Defeat
By Brian Hradsky
The Washington Wizards suffered a heartbreaking 107-106 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, October 16, at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Washington came within one point of securing a road victory but ultimately finished on the losing end of a closely contested preseason matchup. The result gave the Wizards another opportunity to evaluate their developing roster before the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season.
Washington Wizards
106
Final
Oct. 16, 2026
New Orleans Pelicans
107
NBA Preseason · Smoothie King Center · New Orleans, Louisiana
Wizards vs. Pelicans
Smoothie King Center • New Orleans, LA
106
Wizards
0 – 0
Final
Yesterday
107
Pelicans
0 – 0
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wizards | 17 | 34 | 19 | 36 | 106 |
| Pelicans | 23 | 33 | 25 | 26 | 107 |
Wizards Rally Falls One Point Short
Washington struggled offensively during the opening quarter, scoring just 17 points while allowing New Orleans to build a 23-17 advantage. The Wizards responded with a much stronger second quarter, scoring 34 points and narrowing the deficit to 56-51 at halftime. New Orleans regained control after the break, outscoring Washington 25-19 in the third quarter to take an 81-70 lead into the final period. The Wizards mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring the Pelicans 36-26, but fell one point short.
The final quarter offered encouraging signs for Washington’s depth players, who demonstrated improved execution despite the deficit. With the game approaching its conclusion, the Wizards successfully executed a defensive trap that forced New Orleans into a timeout during a critical possession. Washington’s reserves maintained their intensity and gave the team an opportunity to complete the comeback. Although the result was disappointing, the late effort showed the competitive spirit Washington hopes to carry into the regular season.
Anthony Davis and Kyshawn George Lead Washington
Anthony Davis recorded 14 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots in nearly 27 minutes, providing a strong defensive presence for the Wizards. Davis shot 6-for-14 from the field and demonstrated the versatility that makes him an important addition to Washington’s frontcourt. His ability to protect the basket, defend switches and contribute on the glass helped Washington compete against New Orleans’ physical interior players. Davis’ performance provided an encouraging indication of what he could bring to the team when the regular season begins.
Kyshawn George matched Davis with 14 points, converting five of seven field-goal attempts and three of five shots from beyond the arc. George also contributed two blocked shots and continued showing his development as a versatile two-way player. Alex Sarr added 12 points and nine rebounds while making all four of his free-throw attempts. The combination of Davis and Sarr gives Washington considerable size and defensive potential around the basket.
Rookie AJ Dybantsa scored 12 points in just under 15 minutes, shooting 4-for-8 from the field before leaving with an ankle injury. Dybantsa suffered the injury after contact with Zion Williamson while attempting a shot, creating concern for Washington entering the regular season. The No. 1 overall draft pick has been one of the organization’s most closely watched young players throughout the preseason. His availability for opening night will be an important storyline over the coming days.
Trae Young Struggles Shooting but Contributes as Playmaker
Trae Young experienced a difficult shooting night, finishing with seven points on 1-for-11 shooting, including 1-for-7 from three-point range. Despite those struggles, Young contributed seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in nearly 28 minutes. He also committed five turnovers, illustrating the challenges Washington continues to face while developing chemistry among its new offensive contributors. The Wizards will need more efficient scoring from Young when the games begin counting toward the standings.
Young nevertheless displayed encouraging defensive engagement and communication throughout the contest. His positioning and willingness to switch assignments helped Washington improve its transition defense, an area that caused significant problems during the previous season. Young also created open looks for teammates through his ball-handling and decision-making, including a three-point opportunity for George. Washington will benefit if Young can combine that playmaking with more consistent perimeter shooting.
The Wizards received additional contributions from Will Riley, who scored 11 points in approximately 11 minutes off the bench. Tre Johnson added seven points, while Trevor Keels contributed six points on two successful three-point attempts. Khris Middleton finished with five points, four rebounds and three assists in limited action. Those performances gave Washington’s coaching staff another opportunity to evaluate its rotation and reserve options.
Former Wizards Help Pelicans Secure Victory
Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 19 points off the bench, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and connecting on three three-pointers. Bey also collected six rebounds and two steals, giving the Pelicans an important offensive contribution from their second unit. Jeremiah Fears finished with 14 points, five assists and three steals, while Williamson and Trey Murphy III scored 11 points apiece. New Orleans improved to 3-1 in preseason play with the victory.
Former Wizards guard Jordan Poole finished with eight points and four assists against his previous team. Poole struggled from the field, making just two of eight attempts, but remained involved in New Orleans’ offensive possessions. The Pelicans also featured former Washington players Bey, AJ Johnson and Julian Reese, adding an interesting connection between the organizations. New Orleans used its depth and interior scoring to overcome Washington’s late comeback attempt.
The Pelicans dominated the paint, scoring 64 points inside compared with Washington’s 42. New Orleans also held a 22-15 advantage in fast-break points and received 60 points from its bench compared with 47 for Washington. Those advantages helped offset a poor three-point shooting performance in which the Pelicans made only seven of 36 attempts. New Orleans finished shooting 43.4 percent overall, while Washington converted 39.6 percent of its field-goal attempts.
Turnovers and Interior Defense Hurt Washington
Washington’s 23 turnovers proved costly in a game decided by a single point. The Pelicans committed 18 turnovers, giving New Orleans a five-possession advantage in that category. Although both teams struggled with ball security at times, the Wizards repeatedly placed themselves in difficult offensive situations through rushed decisions and inconsistent execution. Protecting the basketball will need to become a priority as Washington prepares for the regular season.
The Wizards also struggled to contain New Orleans near the basket despite receiving strong individual defensive performances from Davis and Sarr. The Pelicans’ 64 points in the paint reflected their ability to attack the interior and generate opportunities around the rim. Washington’s perimeter defenders will need to improve their ability to prevent penetration and reduce the defensive burden on the frontcourt. Stronger defensive rotations and better communication could help address those weaknesses.
Washington did show progress in several important areas, particularly its transition defense and overall defensive awareness. The team’s length created difficult shooting opportunities for New Orleans, while several players demonstrated improved positioning and willingness to help teammates. Those improvements were not enough to secure the victory, but they provided positive signs for a young roster still developing its identity. The challenge now becomes translating those encouraging individual possessions into sustained performance throughout an entire game.
Game Statistics
| Category | Wizards | Pelicans |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 106 | 107 |
| Field-goal percentage | 39.6% | 43.4% |
| Three-point shooting | 12-41 | 7-36 |
| Free throws | 22-31 | 14-16 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 64 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 22 |
| Bench points | 47 | 60 |
| Turnovers | 23 | 18 |
Statistics: NBA official game summary and RealGM box score.
Wizards Prepare for Regular-Season Opener
Washington finishes the preseason with a 2-2 record following the narrow defeat. The Wizards will now turn their attention toward their regular-season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, October 21, at Capital One Arena. The matchup will provide an early opportunity to evaluate Washington’s revamped roster against an Eastern Conference opponent. The coaching staff must determine how to balance veteran contributors with the organization’s promising young talent.
The biggest concern entering opening night involves Dybantsa’s ankle injury and whether the rookie will be available against Milwaukee. Washington must also improve its offensive efficiency after struggling with turnovers and inconsistent shooting against New Orleans. Davis, Sarr and George provided encouraging performances, but the team needs more consistent production from its backcourt. The preseason demonstrated that Washington possesses intriguing talent, although the roster still has significant areas requiring improvement.
MSB Take
The Wizards may have lost their preseason finale, but Friday’s performance offered several encouraging developments. Davis looked comfortable protecting the basket, George continued demonstrating his offensive improvement and Sarr provided another productive performance in the frontcourt. Washington’s defensive communication also appeared improved, particularly during several possessions involving Young and the team’s younger players. Those developments matter more than the final score in a preseason contest.
However, the Wizards cannot ignore the problems that contributed to the defeat. Committing 23 turnovers and allowing 64 points in the paint will make winning regular-season games extremely difficult, particularly against stronger Eastern Conference opponents. Young must become more efficient offensively, while Washington needs to establish better ball movement and defensive consistency. The most important concern is Dybantsa’s health, because the organization cannot afford to rush its prized rookie back from an injury.
Washington enters the regular season with an intriguing combination of veteran experience and young talent. Davis gives the Wizards a legitimate defensive anchor, while George, Sarr and Dybantsa represent important pieces of the organization’s future. The team’s fourth-quarter comeback demonstrated determination, but the Wizards must learn to avoid the mistakes that create double-digit deficits. The potential is there, but Washington still has considerable work ahead before it can become a consistent winner.
Sources: NBA official game summary, ESPN GameCenter, RealGM box score, Bullets Forever and New Orleans Pelicans postgame coverage.
