Bucks Hit the Road Thin as Wizards Open at Home With Dybantsa Set to Debut

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Milwaukee's injury questions and roster upheaval give Washington the edge on opening night.

MIL @ WAS Oct 21, 2026 at 11:00 PM UTC

Milwaukee arrives in Washington with more questions than answers. Nate Ament, the rookie forward, is questionable with an ankle injury and may be a game-time decision. If he can't go, or is limited, the Bucks lose both a young scoring option and a piece of their wing depth. Center Jericho Sims is also listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury, which could leave the frontcourt rotation short.

The larger issue is on the perimeter. The Bucks waived Kevin Porter Jr. on Monday, removing the player who led the team in assists per game last season and ranked second in scoring. That puts even more creation responsibility on Tyler Herro as Milwaukee begins the post-Giannis era under Taylor Jenkins. Herro can carry a heavy load, but a new system, a reshaped roster and a thin ball-handling group usually make for a bumpy opener, especially on the road.

Washington has its own concerns. Tristan Vukcevic (hip) and Jamir Watkins (ACL) are both out, which trims depth at center and guard. Rookie AJ Dybantsa is questionable with an ankle issue, but the team expects him to make his debut against Milwaukee, even while taking it one day at a time. If he plays, the Wizards get a major lift in energy and shot creation, and the home crowd will be fully behind him.

Washington's absences are real, but Milwaukee's combination of roster turnover, lost playmaking and multiple uncertain players is the bigger problem. Expect the Wizards to do just enough, with Dybantsa's presence tipping a close game late.

Prediction: Wizards 111, Bucks 106.

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