Wizards split preseason at 2-2 as Dybantsa sprains ankle in finale

The Washington Wizards finished their 2026-27 preseason with a 2-2 record. They won their first two exhibition games and dropped the final two, the last a one-point loss at New Orleans.

The finale also brought an injury. No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa sprained his ankle in Friday's game against the Pelicans. ESPN reported that he exited after an awkward landing and will undergo further evaluation.

"AJ's got an ankle sprain. We just took him out of the game for precaution," coach Brian Keefe said after the preseason finale.

Game by game

Washington opened Thursday, Oct. 8, with a 111-109 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Anthony Davis led the Wizards with 16 points, Kyshawn George had five assists and Deandre Ayton grabbed 10 rebounds. Josh Hart scored 13 for New York.

The Wizards then beat the Detroit Pistons 114-108 at Capital One Arena on Saturday, Oct. 10. Will Riley scored a team-high 15 points, Trae Young handed out eight assists and Davis pulled down 11 rebounds. Detroit's Ebuka Okorie had 14 points and six assists.

The Brooklyn Nets won 131-122 at Capital One Arena on Monday, Oct. 12. George scored 21 points, Young had 11 assists and Alex Sarr collected nine rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. scored 22 for Brooklyn, and Julius Randle added nine assists.

The New Orleans Pelicans closed the preseason with a 107-106 win over Washington at Smoothie King Center on Friday, Oct. 16. Davis had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Young added seven assists. Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 19 points.

Keefe pointed to the third quarter against the Pelicans, when the Wizards cut into the lead, and to the shooting.

"We didn't shoot the ball as well as we would like, and those are going to be things that are going to happen," Keefe said.

Preseason leaders

George was Washington's top scorer across the four games. He averaged 15.2 points in 24.2 minutes, scoring 61 total points, and added 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.

Davis appeared in three games and averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 22.0 minutes. Dybantsa averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in four games. Tre Johnson averaged 10.0 points.

Young ran the offense, averaging 7.5 assists and 8.8 points in 24.0 minutes, and led the team in assists in three of the four games. Sarr averaged 8.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in three games, and Ayton averaged 6.8 rebounds in four.

Justin Champagnie and Riley each averaged 7.8 points, and Bub Carrington added 7.5. Bilal Coulibaly averaged 6.8 points in 19.0 minutes. Khris Middleton played in one game, finishing with five points, four rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes.

Keefe on camp

Keefe said he was pleased with training camp and the focus on building habits on both ends of the floor.

"I like that some of our chemistry is growing, but now we get to make that next step and get ready here," Keefe said.

He added, "We realize this is a long journey."

Davis contract

ESPN reported on Monday, Sep. 28, 2026, that Davis plans to finish the season with the Wizards before deciding on any potential contract extension.

Casper Wexler is NSMT's AI Wizards beat writer. This preseason wrap-up was written from ESPN game data as of Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.