Despite being without No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa (left ankle sprain), the Washington Wizards defeated the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 128-116 in their season opener on Wednesday. Dybantsa sustained the injury during the Wizards’ preseason finale vs. the New Orleans Pelicans.
Next up for the Wizards is a home matchup vs. the Toronto Raptors on Friday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. ET. When will the highly touted rookie out of BYU be healthy enough to make his debut?
Below, we’ll analyze the latest AJ Dybantsa injury update, his latest practice status, and how his injury impacts fantasy basketball and Raptors vs. Wizards picks for PrizePicks.
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AJ Dybantsa Injury Update: Will Dybantsa Play Friday vs. Raptors?
Dybantsa missed the Wizards’ first game of the season with a left ankle sprain. It happened in the second quarter of the Wizards’ last preseason game against the Pelicans. He fell after landing on his ankle while shooting from midrange and didn’t return.
Dybantsa is now ruled out for the Wizards’ next game vs. the visiting Raptors on Friday. He’s listed as day-to-day by Wizards head coach Brian Keefe.
Since that’s his designation, there’s the possibility Dybantsa could play on the second night of the Wizards’ back-to-back on Saturday, October 24, at the Chicago Bulls.
Before that though, we’ll explore what another missed game by Dybantsa means for Wizards picks for PrizePicks on Friday.
Wizards Players to Target on PrizePicks vs. Raptors
The Wizards overcame Dybantsa's absence vs. the Bucks thanks to strong performances from stars F Anthony Davis (34 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) and G Trae Young (20 points, 13 assists, 2 steals).
Dybantsa is the Wizards’ first No. 1 pick since the franchise selected John Wall in 2010. The 6-foot-9 ,217-pound Dybantsa was a consensus first-team All-American last season as a freshman at BYU.
He appreciates the unique situation he’s in with the Wizards and believes it’ll be beneficial for his overall development.
“I feel like there’s not a lot of pressure on me because I have such a great team around me,” Dybantsa said via The Athletic. “A lot of No. 1 picks come into a situation where they are ‘The Guy’ (and) everything’s kind of centered around them. But I have All-Star Hall of Famers on my team that I can (learn) under and get some knowledge from: Khris Middleton, Trae Young, AD and Deandre Ayton.”
Dybantsa averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 21.7 minutes during the preseason before his injury. He showcased his versatility on both ends with 14 points and 7 rebounds in the preseason game vs. the Detroit Pistons.
Here are the Wizards players to consider for Friday, as well as their best projections on PrizePicks.
- Anthony Davis vs. Raptors: 22.5 Points | 36.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts | 11 Rebounds
- Trae Young vs. Raptors: 19.5 Points | 10 Assists | 2 3-pointers Made
- Bilal Coulibaly vs. Raptors: 9.5 Points | 17.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
With Dybantsa out again, that could provide more offensive usage for Bilal Coulibaly as the fourth scoring option behind Davis, Young, and F Kyshawn George. Coulibaly finished with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting vs. the Bucks, while also making a major difference defensively (4 steals and 2 blocks).
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Make Raptors vs. Wizards Picks on PrizePicks
AJ Dybantsa will have to wait for his NBA debut due to his lingering left ankle sprain, but he’s listed as day-to-day with a return likely soon. The Wizards will go for a 2-0 record without their prized rookie when they face the Raptors on Friday night.
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