It took 1,423 days and a fourth-quarter surge, but the Washington Wizards are back on the right side of .500.
Big man Anthony Davis produced 34 points and 12 rebounds in his Washington debut, a 128-116 opening-night win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21. It’s the franchise’s first time above .500 since Nov. 28, 2022.
Davis hadn’t played since January, when he was still a Dallas Maverick.
“It’s been nine months since I played a real game, so it felt really good to be out on the floor and compete again with these guys,” Davis said.
Injuries wiped out his first season in Washington, yet fans chanted “MVP” before the opening quarter ended.
Ten points came in his first eight minutes, and 18 more arrived in the third quarter. His 34 matched the Wizards’ debut record Antawn Jamison set in 2004.
Guard Trae Young, who played only 15 games last season, five of them in Washington, added 20 points and 13 assists.
“I just knew he was going to be ready, and I wasn’t surprised by what he did tonight,” Young said of Davis.
His shooting was rough at 4 of 13, with all six 3-point tries missing, but he made 12 free throws.
Milwaukee led for long stretches while Washington clanked 18 of its first 22 3-pointers.
A Deandre Ayton dunk put Washington up 97-96 in the opening minutes of the fourth, during a 21-4 burst that reached 111-98 with 7:26 left.
The Wizards shot 63% after halftime and won the fourth quarter 38-23, with Kyshawn George adding 18 points.
Tyler Herro scored 24, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 22 for Milwaukee, both acquired in the trade that shipped Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami.
Rookie AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick, sat out with an ankle injury.
Young aimed higher for him. “Nights like tonight and we continue to win games, he’s going to be in the conversation,” he said, referring to MVP talk.
Washington tries to stay over .500 at home against Toronto on Oct. 23, while Milwaukee hosts Chicago.