Anthony Davis Drops 34 in Wizards Debut, Bucks Fall

Anthony Davis could not have scripted a better Wizards debut. Davis poured in 34 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in Washington, and the Wizards erased a halftime deficit to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116 in Wednesday's season opener at Capital One Arena, per the ESPN box score.

Davis went 11-for-20 from the field and 11-for-14 at the line in 34 minutes, adding four assists, two steals and a block. Trae Young ran the show next to him with 20 points and 13 assists, and Kyshawn George chipped in 18.

Davis owned the paint

This was the version of AD the Wizards traded for. He had 10 points and six boards in the first quarter alone, and the home crowd gave him an ovation when he went to the bench. Washington outscored Milwaukee 70-50 in the paint and shot 52% from the floor, which is how you win a game where you go just 6-for-28 from three. If you were watching, every possession seemed to end with Davis at the rim or at the line.

The free throw line was the other weapon. The Wizards went 32-for-41 at the stripe while the Bucks were whistled for 32 fouls.

The second-half flip

Milwaukee led 56-51 at the break behind a 33-point second quarter. Then the Wizards took over, winning the third quarter 39-37 and blowing it open with a 38-23 fourth. Justin Champagnie was a quiet difference-maker off the bench with eight points and eight rebounds, and he finished a team-best plus-17. For a Wizards fan base that has sat through a long rebuild, a 38-23 fourth quarter on opening night is the kind of finish you remember.

Bucks lose the shootout late

Tyler Herro scored 24 with nine assists and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22 for Milwaukee, and the Bucks hit 15 threes. Kasparas Jakucionis gave them 15 off the bench. But Kyle Kuzma managed just five points on 2-for-9 shooting, Ryan Rollins went 4-for-14, and the Bucks had no answer for Davis inside. For Milwaukee fans, the late collapse is the part that will sting most.

Washington did it without No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa, who is out with a left ankle sprain. The Wizards host the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The Bucks host the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Smacktok pick: lean higher on Davis' points against Toronto on Friday. He took 20 shots and 14 free throws in 34 minutes in his debut, and the Wizards' offense ran through him in the paint all night.