Davis stars on Wizards debut as Washington come from behind to beat Milwaukee

Anthony Davis made a winning start in a Washington shirt. With 34 points, twelve rebounds and four assists, the big man carried the Wizards to a 128–116 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday 21 October in the United States. Still trailing at the end of the third quarter, his side made the difference in the final twelve minutes.

Milwaukee lead at the break

Washington had won the first quarter 25–23, but the Bucks regained the lead in the second, winning it 33–26. At half-time, Milwaukee led 56–51. The Wizards still had to find the run that would take lasting control.

The offences then stepped up a gear. Washington scored 39 points in the third quarter, Milwaukee 37. That high-scoring period therefore cut the deficit by only two points: going into the final period, the Bucks were still ahead, 93–90. The game was still up for grabs.

The Wizards own the fourth quarter

Washington then shifted the balance of power. They retook the lead in the fourth quarter, then stretched it. The team won the final period 38–23 and kept enough of a cushion to finish twelve points clear.

The contrast between the two halves is stark: held to 51 points before the break, the Wizards scored 77 after it. Milwaukee kept scoring in the third quarter, but could not keep up with that surge to the end. The final period settled a contest that had been closely fought until then.

Davis scores, Young creates

Davis made eleven of his twenty shots from the field and eleven of his fourteen free throws. His 34 points were Washington's main source of offence, along with a double-double on the boards. Trae Young added twenty points and thirteen assists, giving the Wizards a second engine to create chances.

Kyshawn George contributed eighteen points, five rebounds and three assists. Bilal Coulibaly finished with eleven points, four steals and two blocks. Deandre Ayton also scored eleven points, while Bub Carrington added ten. That spread of scoring backed up the Davis–Young duo and allowed Washington to sustain their effort through the second half.

Herro and Jaquez not enough for the Bucks

Tyler Herro finished as Milwaukee's top scorer with 24 points, to which he added nine assists. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Kasparas Jakučionis contributed fifteen points and Myles Turner eleven.

Those efforts allowed the Bucks to lead at two successive breaks, but their three-point advantage after the third quarter did not survive Washington's strong finish. The Wizards thus begin their season with a win built in the final period, with Davis finishing and Young creating.

Find the score and the statistics on the SNA match page.

The official NBA highlights of Milwaukee–Washington