Wizards Smother Hornets 95-79 in AJ Dybantsa's Home Debut as Charlotte Shoots 29.7%

The Charlotte Hornets jumped out to a 10-point lead in Washington. Then their shots stopped falling, and they never recovered. Trae Young had 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, Anthony Davis added 25 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa scored 17 in his home debut as the Wizards won 95-79 on Friday night to open NBA Cup play.

Hornets vs. Wizards: final score and key numbers

Final: Wizards 95, Hornets 79.

The Associated Press, via CBS Sports, summed up the night bluntly: the story was Charlotte’s “atrocious shooting.”

• The Hornets went 4 of 10 from 3-point range to start the game and led by 10 in the first quarter.
• They then made 4 of their next 29 3-point attempts.
• Charlotte finished at 29.7% from the field and 12 of 56 from deep.
• Washington held the Hornets to 13 points in the third quarter.

The AP noted that the Hornets have now produced the two lowest-scoring games in the NBA this season, after an 81-point loss to Atlanta on Oct. 23.

The Wizards attempted far fewer 3s, 30 to Charlotte’s 56 in the AP count, and leaned on finishing at the rim, transition and free throws. Sports Illustrated wrote that coach Brian Keefe pointed to timely makes and the team’s interior strengths when asked about the low 3-point rate.

AJ Dybantsa’s home debut

Dybantsa missed the start of the season with an ankle injury, according to the AP. He made his NBA debut Wednesday with 19 points in a loss at Cleveland, then played his first game in front of the home crowd Friday.

The 19-year-old looked composed again, the AP said. He had a putback in the fourth quarter wiped out by a basket interference call, then later switched hands on a drive and banked in a shot through contact, drawing “MVP! MVP!” chants. Sports Illustrated credited him with eight rebounds and said he pushed the pace and helped unlock Washington’s transition game. He is averaging 18 points through two games, per SI.

Washington Wizards: who led the way

• Anthony Davis: 25 points, 13 rebounds
• Trae Young: 21 points, nine assists, seven rebounds
• AJ Dybantsa: 17 points

SI described the result as a rematch win after a recent loss to the Hornets in Charlotte, and said it lifted Washington to 3-3. The outlet also noted that Tre Johnson played under 13 minutes as he works through a shooting slump.

Charlotte Hornets: what went wrong

• Brandon Miller: 19 points to lead Charlotte. SI reported he shot 7 of 24.
• Naz Reid: 12 points and 11 rebounds, back in the starting lineup after being benched in the second half at Detroit on Wednesday, per the AP.

Charlotte has also been short-handed. The AP reported the Hornets have played all season without Kon Knueppel (hamstring) and Coby White (calf), and Grant Williams (hamstring) has also been out.

NBA Cup stakes

Friday was the first night of NBA Cup group play. SI described Washington as a favorite in East Group C after earlier wins over group opponents, though one win guarantees little in a four-game group stage.

What’s next

• Hornets: host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
• Wizards: visit the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

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