Davis scores 34, Wizards pull away from Bucks in fourth for opening-night win

WASHINGTON — The Wizards opened the 2026-27 season with a 128-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Capital One Arena, outscoring the visitors 38-23 in the fourth quarter after trailing through most of the night.

Anthony Davis led Washington with 34 points and 12 rebounds, going 11-for-20 from the field and 11-for-14 at the line in 34 minutes. Trae Young added 20 points and 13 assists, making 12 of 16 free throws. Kyshawn George scored 18 on 8-for-14 shooting, and the Wizards shot 52 percent as a team in front of 18,805.

How it unfolded

Washington led 25-23 after the first quarter, but Milwaukee took a 56-51 lead into halftime behind a 33-point second period. The Bucks held a 93-90 edge after three before the Wizards closed with their 38-23 fourth.

There were seven lead changes, and the Bucks led for 53 percent of the game. Milwaukee's largest lead was eight; Washington's was 13.

Inside game

The Wizards did their work in the paint, scoring 70 points inside to Milwaukee's 50, and went 32-for-41 at the free-throw line. Washington was just 6-for-28 from three-point range, with Young going 0-for-6, while the Bucks hit 15 of 41 from deep.

Washington turned Milwaukee's 16 turnovers into 18 points and finished with 11 steals and seven blocks. Bilal Coulibaly had four steals and two blocks to go with 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting. The Bucks were called for 32 fouls, with Kel'el Ware fouling out with six in 14 minutes.

Bench production

Deandre Ayton scored 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting in 15 minutes off the bench, adding four rebounds and two blocks. Bub Carrington had 10 points, four assists and two steals, and Justin Champagnie contributed eight points and eight rebounds, finishing a team-best plus-17. Tre Johnson scored eight and was plus-12. Khris Middleton had two points in 12 minutes.

Alex Sarr finished with six points and nine rebounds, five of them on the offensive glass.

For the Bucks

Tyler Herro led Milwaukee with 24 points and nine assists, hitting 4 of 11 threes. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 22 on 8-for-12 shooting with seven rebounds. Kasparas Jakucionis added 15 off the bench, Brayden Burries 12 and Myles Turner 11. Kyle Kuzma, a starter, had five points on 2-for-9 shooting with six rebounds and three steals.

Up next

The win puts Washington at 1-0, tied with Atlanta and Charlotte atop the Southeast after both of those teams also opened with victories Wednesday. The Wizards return to Capital One Arena on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET to host the Toronto Raptors, who opened their season with a 135-92 win over Chicago.