Update — October 28, 2026, 9:05 p.m. CDT: Cleveland beat Washington 121–111 in AJ Dybantsa’s NBA debut, the league’s final result confirms.

Dybantsa led the Wizards with 19 points, while Evan Mobley scored 24 and Peyton Watson added 22 for Cleveland, according to the Associated Press game report. Mobley made a career-high five three-pointers and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Washington led by 13 early in the third quarter. Cleveland later erased a 105–104 deficit with nine consecutive points, helping secure its third straight victory. Donovan Mitchell finished with 19 points for the Cavaliers. Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr each scored 18 for Washington.

The result completed Dybantsa’s first regular-season appearance after an ankle injury delayed the start of his rookie season. Washington next hosts Charlotte on Friday; Cleveland visits Atlanta on Thursday.

Earlier Coverage — October 28, 2026, 7:06 p.m. CDT

Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa was in the starting lineup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 28 for his NBA debut, the Associated Press reported.

The first overall pick in June's draft missed Washington's opening four games because of a sprained ankle. NBA.com separately reported that he had been upgraded to available for Wednesday's game.

Coach Brian Keefe said Dybantsa would play under a minutes restriction. He described the debut as a milestone for the rookie and his family, emphasizing that he wanted Dybantsa to enjoy his first regular-season appearance.

Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points a game at BYU last season, leading the nation in scoring. He joins a Washington roster that also includes former first overall picks Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton.

The Wizards entered the Cleveland game with a 2–2 record, an improvement on their 1–15 opening stretch the previous season. The lineup announcement and debut are the developments covered here; the game was still underway when this report was checked.

Sources NBA.com — Wizards–Cavaliers Final, October 28, 2026: https://www.nba.com/game/was-vs-cle-0022600133 Associated Press via Yahoo Sports — Game Report, October 29, 2026 UTC: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/mobley-cavaliers-storm-back-beat-014019874.html Associated Press: Dybantsa in Starting Lineup: https://www.audacy.com/wben/local-sports/wizards-dybantsa-574e911a7ec8899cbafd9ae82816da42 NBA.com: Dybantsa Upgraded to Available: https://www.nba.com/news/wizards-aj-dybantsa-available-nba-debut-cavaliers