The Washington Wizards face a pivotal moment following their trade of Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks. While Khris Middleton, the notable name in the return, struggled in his debut, the real evaluation lies in rookie AJ Johnsonâs potential impact. In a closely contested game, Middleton missed a late opportunity to tie, despite coach Brian Keefe's trust in him. Meanwhile, the Wizardsâ rookie Alex Sarr had a standout performance, suggesting that the team's future may hinge on emerging talents rather than fading veterans.
Middleton scored 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting, but his biggest miss was a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of a 104-101 loss at Capital One Arena.
Coach Brian Keefe turned to Middleton each time â but the veteran couldn't author a storybook ending... 'He's a closer, has been for a very long time in this league,' the coach said.
The evaluation will be centered around the long-term pieces acquired, namely rookie guard AJ Johnson.
The Wizards (9-46) got a game and career-high 22 points from rookie Alex Sarr. The No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft also pulled down seven rebounds.
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