Wizards secure a hard-fought win, snapping a losing streak. Rookies and new additions shine, hinting at future potential for Washington.
On February 19, 2026, the Washington Wizards defeated the Indiana Pacers 112-105 at Capital One Arena.
This was both team's first game back from the All-Star break, but tonight's matchup did not fail to entertain.
Before we dive into the game highlights, it is important to note that Washington and Indiana were the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference by record. Both teams had little interest in playing their starters for an extended period of time, as they are trying to get the best lottery position possible.
With Washington's victory tonight, it snapped their three-game losing streak and put them in the win column to start the second half of the season.
Washington's scoring was spread out tonight, as four players were tied with a team high of 13 points: Bub Carrington, Anthony Gill, Kadary Richmond and Jaden Hardy.
Team leaders Carrington and Gill led the way early for Washington, as their experience and leadership were instrumental in Washington's first half success.
Hardy was acquired in the Anthony Davis trade, and made his debut appearance in the red and blue where he had a strong performance. The 23 year-old shot 5-for-13 from the field, and 3-of-6 from deep, displaying his ability to knock down difficult shots. Hardy could be an intriguing scoring option for Washington's bench unit in the future.
Rookie wing Kadary Richmond played a career-high of 29 minutes tonight, where he displayed his ability to defend all positions and put pressure on the rim. Richmond shot 5-for-7 from the field, while hauling in five rebounds and dishing out three assists. As Washington continues to look for hidden gems, Richmond will have every opportunity to showcase why he's deserving of making the roster next season.
Tristan Vukcevic and Bilal Coulibaly were both effective tonight for Washington, and they each poured in 12 points and had a combined plus minus of +9. Coulibaly's defense continues to be encouraging, as his versatility and ability to play the passing lanes helps Washington run in transition.
Breakouts Kyshawn George and Tre Johnson saw limited playing time tonight, as they both struggled from the field. Johnson shot 4-for-12 from the field and 0-of-4 from three, and George 3-for-10 from the field. Although they were unable to get anything going on offense, their play throughout the season has been encouraging enough to where fans should be content with down performances like we saw tonight.
Washington will be back in action tomorrow night against Indiana, once again, at Capital One Arena. Tip-off set for 7:00 PM ET.