AJ Dybantsa Waited Four Games For His Debut, Then Led The Washington Wizards With 19 Points

AJ Dybantsa had waited four games to play in the NBA, and he did not look nervous when his turn came. The No. 1 pick in June's draft led the Wizards with 19 points in his debut on Wednesday night, and he did it on 8-of-12 shooting. He had missed the start of the season with a sprained ankle. Washington still lost 121-111 at Cleveland, but the night belonged to the rookie.

A debut that started with two free throws

Dybantsa started at shooting guard and wasted no time. On his first possession, he drove past James Harden and looked headed for a dunk, but Jarrett Allen fouled him 16 seconds into the game. He made both free throws to start his pro career. “I wanted my first basket to be a dunk so bad,” he said. “I was telling my dad that, but I mean it's cool, got fouled.”

His first field goal came on an alley-oop from Trae Young, and he scored nine points in the first quarter. That is the most first-quarter points by a Wizards rookie in a debut since at least 1996-97. He finished with 19 points, two rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in about 27 minutes. It is the most points by a Wizards rookie in a debut since Tom Gugliotta scored 20 in 1992, and it ties for fourth in franchise history.

Coach Brian Keefe said the 27 minutes were about what the team wanted, and he liked what he saw. “I thought he was terrific,” Keefe said. Anthony Davis, who had 18 points, said Dybantsa looked “calm, cool and collected.” Allen, the player who fouled him, said he scored “from all three levels.” Dybantsa led the nation at 25.5 points a game at BYU last season, and he is one of three No. 1 picks on Washington's roster, with Davis and Deandre Ayton.

How the Cavaliers came back

Washington looked good early. Dybantsa's alley-oop off a pass from Kyshawn George pushed the lead to 76-63 early in the third quarter, and the Wizards were up 13 at one point. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said his team came out as if it was facing “the old Wizards” and could have been down 20.

Then the Cavaliers turned it around. They cut the gap to seven and went on a 14-6 run. Evan Mobley's layup made it 94-92, Cleveland's first lead since late in the first quarter, and the Cavs scored nine straight after trailing 105-104 to take control. Mobley had 24 points with a career-high five threes, Peyton Watson added 22, and Donovan Mitchell had 19.

Davis and Alex Sarr each scored 18 for Washington, and Bilal Coulibaly added 17 on a perfect start of eight straight makes. The Wizards are 2-3 after a 1-15 start last season. They also lost forward Justin Champagnie, who had surgery on a fractured right foot. Charlotte visits on Friday.