AJ Dybantsa sharp in his home debut as the Wizards smother Charlotte 95-79

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trae Young had 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, AJ Dybantsa scored 17 points in his home debut, and the Washington Wizards routed the Charlotte Hornets 95-79 on Friday night.

Washington held the Hornets to 13 points in the third quarter, cruising to a comfortable victory on the first night of NBA Cup play. Anthony Davis had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards.

Dybantsa wasn't available to start the season because of an ankle injury, but this year's No. 1 overall draft pick finally played Wednesday night, scoring 19 points in a loss at Cleveland. He looked composed again Friday in front of the home fans. Dybantsa had an impressive putback in the fourth quarter negated by a basket interference call. A short while later, he switched hands while driving before banking in a shot while being fouled.

That drew an “MVP! MVP!” chant for the 19-year-old rookie.

The story of this game, however, was Charlotte's atrocious shooting. The Hornets led by 10 in the first quarter after starting 4 of 10 from 3-point range. Then they made four of their next 29 attempts from long range.

Charlotte ended up shooting 29.7% from the field for the game, 12 of 56 from 3-point range. The Hornets are now responsible for the two lowest-scoring games in the NBA this season, having produced 81 points in an Oct. 23 loss to Atlanta.

Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 19 points. Naz Reid was back in the starting lineup for Charlotte after being benched in the second half at Detroit on Wednesday night. Reid had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hornets have been without Kon Knueppel (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) all season so far. Grant Williams (hamstring) has also been out.

Hornets: Host Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Wizards: At Orlando on Monday night.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) is fouled by Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa (4) shoots against Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James, right, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa (4) goes to the basket against Charlotte Hornets forward Royce O'Neale, left, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) looks to pass the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Reigning NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov informed the Tampa Bay Lightning he is not re-signing with the team and has asked for a trade, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the talks are considered private.

“We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning,” general manager Julien BriseBois said in a statement. “We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”

Kucherov is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, the last of an eight-year, $76 million contract signed in 2018 before he helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup twice, led the NHL in scoring three times and was voted the recipient of the Hart Trophy in 2018-19 and 2025-26.

“Nikita is a historically great player,” BriseBois said at his training camp-opening news conference last month. “He’s not just one of the best players in the world right now — maybe the best player in the world right now. He is one of the best players ever."

Kucherov's 1,139 points in 891 regular-season games since debuting in 2013 are third most among all players over that time behind only Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon. His 177 in the playoffs are the most during that span.

The 33-year-old Russian winger became the franchise's career points leader last weekend, passing former captain Steven Stamkos. Kucherov has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points through 12 games, second on the team behind Brandon Hagel.

BriseBois told reporters in mid-September that the goal was to get Kucherov signed to a new deal that keeps him around for years to come as part of a perennial contender. BriseBois said he and agent Dan Milstein would keep the lines of communication open to that end.

“I have every reason to believe that he’s going to remain an elite player well into his 30s,” BriseBois said at the time. “That’s been the mindset throughout these contract negotiations. Both parties, I know, would have preferred to have a deal today to be able to put that behind us. We haven’t been able to do that.”

Kucherov's anticipated departure makes him the latest high-profile star to ask for a trade in recent months, after Brady Tkachuk went from Ottawa to Florida, Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg to New Jersey and Dylan Larkin remains in limbo with Detroit. The others had more time left on their current contracts than Kucherov, whose uncertainty threatens to upend what has been one of the most successful runs in the league since the salary cap era began in 2005.

The Lightning have made the playoffs 12 times in 13 seasons and reached the final four times with Kucherov and Victor Hedman at the center of their core, with Stamkos, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, center Brayden Point and others cycling in and out. They also have been knocked out in the first round each of the past four years.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, right, waves to the crowd after a video presentation for Kucherov becoming the Lightning's all-time leading scorer during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov waits for a face-off in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)