Wizards defeat Hornets 95-79 as Dybantsa plays first home game
AJ Dybantsa scored 17 points in his debut before a local crowd, while the Wizards held Charlotte to a season-low offensive output.
By Harper Laurent ·
The Washington Wizards limited the Charlotte Hornets to 13 points in the third quarter on Friday, securing a 95-79 victory in the opening night of the NBA Cup tournament.
AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, scored 17 points in his first game at the Capital One Arena. He had been sidelined for the start of the season due to a ankle injury. His first appearance came on Wednesday in a loss to Cleveland, where he recorded 19 points.
Trae Young led the Wizards with 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Anthony Davis contributed 25 points and 13 rebounds for Washington. The home team controlled the pace of the game, extending their lead after Charlotte's offensive struggles became apparent.
The Hornets shot poorly from beyond the arc throughout the contest. They finished the game 12-of-56 from three-point range, resulting in a 29.7 percent field goal percentage for the entire team. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 19 points.
Dybantsa generated strong reactions from the local fans. He had an offensive rebound and score disallowed in the fourth quarter due to an goaltending violation. Moments later, he changed hands while driving to the basket and scored a layup while being fouled. The crowd began chanting for the 19-year-old to be named the Most Valuable Player.
Charlotte has now produced the two lowest scoring outputs in the NBA this season. The team scored 81 points in an October 23 loss to Atlanta. The Hornets had a brief lead in the first quarter after going 4-for-10 from deep, but they made only four of their next 29 three-point attempts.
The Wizards capitalized on the Hornets' inconsistent shooting to close the game comfortably. The result marked the first competitive action for the league's midseason tournament.
