Varun Shankar

Welcome back, Bilal Coulibaly. Now go guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Frenchman, back in the starting lineup after a Sept. thumb injury, scores 16 points as the Wizards show some fight in a 127-108 loss to the defending champs.

The Wizards welcomed back Bilal Coulibaly, who looked pretty good in his first game of the season. Check out the season tracker for more:

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

Two continuing problems for Kyshawn George, fouls and turnovers. He's got five of each today.

The first is a byproduct of his aggressive defense. The latter could be one of the downsides of running offense through a point forward.

Monumental Basketball hires former ESPN editor to high-ranking role Cristina Daglas will be the head of research and identity for the organization, which comprises the Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capital City Go-Go.

Story on Monumental Basketball hiring an ex-ESPN editor as head of research and identity.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

BILAL COULIBALY

Crossover in transition, dusts his defender and slams home a dunk for his 15th and 16th points of the night.

The Thunder lead the Wizards, 59-49, at the break.

Shai has 20 for OKC.

Bilal Coulibaly, in his first game of the season, has 12 points. 5/8 from the field. Also has six rebonds, two assists, a steal and three blocks.

Not bad!

No hesitation from Bilal Coulibaly from three so far in this game. He's 2/5 from deep.

Bilal Coulibaly hits his first three of the season, 1/3 from deep so far.

Nice play by Sarr to finish through the contact for the and-one. Improved strength showing.

After one quarter, Wiz trail 28-20, Tre Johnson leads Washington with 5. Shai has 13.

Holy **** Shai is so good

Bub, Tre, CJ, Kyshawn and Sarr on the court now

Bilal Coulibaly gets out in transition for a dunk and forces a Thunder timeout. Wiz up 11-6 early.

Coulibaly has two points, a rebound, an assist and two blocks in his return.

Bilal Coulibaly with a nice play early in his return. Good defense on a Cason Wallace drive, gets the ball in transition and kicks to an open Kyshawn George for three.

That’s… not Kyshawn George

(Its Keshon Gilbert)

Bilal Coulibaly will start for the Wizards tonight. Bub Carrington moves to the bench.

CJ, Bilal, Khris, Ky, Sarr have an average height of over 6-7, one of the tallest lineups in the NBA.

Putting Bilal at the point of attack also allows George to be disruptive off the ball.

Bilal Coulibaly warms up. The third-year wing makes his season debut tonight.

data per Cleaning the Glass

The Wizards are getting out in transition on 45.6% of live rebounds.

That's the highest mark in the league by far. The gap between the Wiz and 2nd-highest (Cleveland) is bigger than the gap between 2nd and 16th.

Sarr is rebounding 24.8% of opponent misses. That's in the 83rd percentile among bigs. Improved from last yr, when he was at 15.9% (37th percentile), per Cleaning the Glass.

A key reason why Wiz have 5th best opponent ORB% this year (27th last yr).

It's early, but a good sign.

Nationals expected to hire Blake Butera, 33, as their next manager The skipper, chosen by new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, has much to address as his tenure with Washington begins.

The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to hire Blake Butera — a 33-year-old who worked as the senior director of player development for the Tampa Bay Rays — as their next manager, tasking him with guiding a young roster.

The Wizards announce they’ve picked up third-year team options for: Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and AJ Johnson and

Fourth year options for: Cam Whitmore and Bilal Coulibaly.

All expected moves.

On this date a year ago, the Pacers, Knicks and Nuggets were a combined 3-7, the Magic had a top-five offense, the Mavs had a top-five defense (and Luka), and Mike Budenholzer was off to a pretty good start in Phoenix. So, y'know: let's stay patient and careful out there.

Bilal Coulibaly will return tomorrow vs OKC, per Brian Keefe

Jordan Poole on playing in Washington: “It was dead in Capital One.”

That's one cost of losing.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

On a huge night for Alex Sarr, the Wizards run back a collapse Star guard finishes with a triple-double as Charlotte rallies past Washington in a big way after halftime.

Wizards season tracker is updated after an overtime loss to the 76ers.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...

I asked Kyshawn George about the play. Said if the refs didn't think it was a foul, it wasn't a foul, and that he needs to make the layup.

Asked if Kyshawn George was fouled on his layup attempt, Keefe says "No Comment."

Brian Keefe says the last inbound that gets picked by Philly was so aggressive because the Wizards thought they'd be fouled in the backcourt with 76ers up 3.

Keefe said it's the same play the Wiz ran that led to Sarr's buzzer beating three at the end of the first half vs CHA.

Wiz going to OT

He just got up, walking under his own power back to the Wizards bench with a towel over his face.

Looks like Embiid elbowed him in the face.