Bucks vs. Wizards: Anthony Davis scores 34 in his Washington debut as Wizards rally past Milwaukee 128-116

The new-look Washington Wizards had to wait until the fourth quarter, but their opening night ended the way the home crowd hoped. Anthony Davis scored 34 points with 12 rebounds in his first game for Washington, and the Wizards came from behind to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Capital One Arena in the season opener for both teams.

“Bucks vs wizards” drew more than 100,000 Google searches in the US, with fans also looking up Davis, Trae Young, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Bub Carrington, plus the usual “match player stats” and “where to watch” questions.

Bucks vs. Wizards: final score and box score highlights

According to the official scorer’s report, Milwaukee led 56-51 at halftime and 93-90 after three quarters before Washington won the fourth 38-23.

Wizards - Anthony Davis: 34 points (11-of-20 shooting, 11-of-14 free throws), 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals - Trae Young: 20 points, 13 assists (12-of-16 at the line) - Kyshawn George: 18 points, 5 rebounds - Bilal Coulibaly: 11 points - Deandre Ayton: 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench - Bub Carrington: 10 points, 4 assists, 2 steals in 18 minutes

Bucks - Tyler Herro: 24 points, 9 assists - Jaime Jaquez Jr.: 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 7 rebounds - Kasparas Jakučionis: 15 points off the bench - Brayden Burries: 12 points - Myles Turner: 11 points

Washington won the paint decisively, 70-50, and attendance was 18,805.

How Washington turned it around

For most of the night, the story was the Wizards’ cold shooting. The Associated Press recap noted they missed 18 of their first 22 three-point attempts, and the final box shows them at 6-of-28 (21.4%) from deep. Milwaukee, by contrast, made 15 threes and led for long stretches; its biggest lead was eight points.

The swing came early in the fourth. A Deandre Ayton dunk gave Washington a 97-96 lead during a 21-4 run that pushed the margin to 111-98 with 7:26 to play, according to the AP. The Wizards shot 63% from the field in the second half and outscored the Bucks 77-60 after the break. The teams traded the lead seven times and were tied nine times before Washington pulled away.

Anthony Davis’ long-awaited Washington debut

Davis was injured when Washington acquired him and did not play for the Wizards last season, the AP reported, so Wednesday was the first look home fans got at him in a Wizards uniform. They responded with an “MVP” chant before the first quarter was over. He finished with a game-high 34 and was a constant presence at the free-throw line.

Young, also acquired by Washington last season, did most of his damage as a playmaker, handing out 13 assists while getting to the line 16 times.

Who sat out

The Wizards were without No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, who was inactive with a left ankle sprain, according to the official report. The same report listed Vukčević (left hip impingement) and Watkins (left knee, ACL surgery) as inactive for Washington, and Jones, Nance and Ryan as inactive for Milwaukee.

A new era in Milwaukee

The opener also highlighted how much the Bucks have changed. Milwaukee traded franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami in the offseason, and Herro and Jaquez, the Bucks’ top two scorers on Wednesday, both came to Milwaukee in that deal, according to the AP. It was also the first game for new Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins, who previously coached the Memphis Grizzlies.

The AP described the two franchises as teams that “appear headed in opposite directions,” with Washington adding Davis, Young and Dybantsa while Milwaukee resets around a new core. One night in, the Wizards are 1-0 and the Bucks 0-1.

Where to watch and what’s next

ESPN’s game page listed Monumental Sports Network (MNMT) and NBA League Pass among the broadcast options for Wednesday’s game. Per the AP, the Bucks host the Chicago Bulls on Friday, while the Wizards host the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

FAQ

Who won Bucks vs. Wizards? The Wizards won 128-116 at Capital One Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

How many points did Anthony Davis score? 34, with 12 rebounds, in his Wizards debut.

Who led the Bucks? Tyler Herro scored 24 points; Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22.

Did AJ Dybantsa play? No. The No. 1 pick was inactive with a left ankle sprain.

What did Bub Carrington do? He scored 10 points with four assists and two steals off the bench.