New Look Wizards Backcourt Dazzles in Loss to Pelicans

The Washington Wizards have now fallen to 0-2 in the Trae Young era, after a 138-118 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Although Washington has lost eight consecutive games, the vibes are higher than ever and the direction for this team is clear.

Led by four time all-star Trae Young, Washington looks rejuvenated, especially on the offensive side of the floor. Young's playmaking and offensive abilities have been on full display in his first two games in the red, white and blue.

Young only played 18 minutes tonight, as he is still nursing a right knee injury that kept him sidelined for a couple of months. Even in a limited sample size, Young scored 17 points on 4-for-6 shooting, and 3-for-5 from three with eight assists and four rebounds. 

Young not only displayed his scoring ability tonight, but was also setting up his teammates for open looks constantly. One of the biggest beneficiaries of Young in Washington has been rookie guard Tre Johnson.

Johnson is known for his knockdown shooting and tough shot making, as both were in plain sight tonight. The rookie scored a team high 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field and 4-for-7 from deep. Johnson has thrived off of Young's gravity, as he got a handful of open looks tonight from Young's passes. 

The backcourt of Young and Johnson has impressed so far, and the duo will only get better as the season goes on and they build more chemistry. 

With that being said, Johnson wasn't the only rookie to impress tonight, as Will Riley had another double digit performance for Washington. 

In 25 minutes off the bench, Riley scored 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field. The 24th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is looking like a complete steal, as his offensive bag looks extremely polished. 

Standing at six-foot-nine, Riley's ability to put the ball on the floor, get to his spot and finish through contact is extremely impressive. His twitchiness and strong footwork allows for him to get great looks at the rim. Riley is slowly emerging as one of Washington's best young pieces heading into next season. 

Even with strong performances from Young, Johnson and Riley, Washington would struggle to retake the lead in the second half as New Orleans was led by Trey Murphy who scored a game high of 24 points. 

Although Washington hasn't won a game since February 20, 2026, the future is bright and the signs of success are forthcoming. 

Washington will be back in action on March 10th when they'll take on the Miami Heat on the road.