ATLANTA (AP) — After Trae Young was introduced last for the Washington Wizards on Friday night, he took the court before tipoff, went to the corner of the floor and settled himself. Then, he jogged over to Hawks coach Quin Snyder for a pregame embrace before taking on his former team.
“I don’t even know how to describe the feeling,” Young said after the Hawks topped the Wizards 139-132. “I mean, it was different. It was cool for me.”
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Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) drives against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) drives against against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) moves on the court against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Young had 23 points, 10 assists, but also a season-high eight turnovers against the Hawks, who beat the Wizards in both games of a home-and-home series this week. Young said he didn't get a chance to chat with Snyder in Washington, so he wanted to make sure he said hello Friday because he has a special relationship with his former coach.
Young was a four-time All-Star with the Hawks in seven-plus seasons before being traded to the Wizards for Corey Kispert and C.J. McCollum in January. He is the franchise's all-time leader in assists and 3-pointers.
Young returned to Atlanta last year after he was traded, but he was unable to play due to an injured knee. He was on the bench when the team ran a tribute video during a second-quarter timeout highlighting his time in Atlanta and he showed appreciation for the cheering fans by making a heart with his hands.
Friday night, he was healthy and ready to play. There were a few cheers when he was introduced, but it was mostly a muted response. Young said he will remember his first night in an opposing jersey.
“I don’t think it’ll feel like this every time (I play in Atlanta), but definitely tonight,” Young said. "Just even, even the day we played them (Wednesday), I knew today was coming next. I’m not gonna get a first all the time. You know what I’m saying? So that’s why I’ll probably I’m gonna have these feelings.
Young entered Friday's game leading the NBA in assists with 9.3 per game. Wizards coach Brian Keefe praised his unselfishness before Friday's game.
“He's fully embraced the group and he's trying to make each one of these guys better and put us in good positions,” Keefe said. “He's done a really good job of that.”
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See AP’s full NBA coverage here
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) drives against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) drives against against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) moves on the court against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Daryl Mitchell made a half century and shared a 59-run partnership with Mitchell Santner Saturday in an act of resistance before New Zealand was dismissed for 134 in 41 overs, batting first in the second one-day cricket international against India.
Mitchell was out for 55 and Santner for 31 as New Zealand again failed to produce a challenging total against a concerted India attack. Henry Nicholls (11) was the only other New Zealand batter apart from Santner and Mitchell to reach double figures.
Gurnoor Brar produced difficult bounce and took 4-30 from 10 overs while Auqib Nabi struck twice early and finished with 2-31. Anshul Kamboj and spinner Axar Patel, bowling through the middle of the innings, took two wickets each.
India captain Shubman Gill won an influential toss, his sixth in seven matches across the T20 and ODI series, and couldn't hide his delight at being able to send New Zealand in on a pitch which had sweated under the covers for two days.
Asked what he intended do after winning the toss, Gill grinned and said: “Bowl. No surprises there.” His New Zealand counterpart, Mitchell Santner, looked dejected.
The toss was delayed by an hour because of a damp outfield and the match was reduced to 47 overs per side.
Gill has called tails in six matches and won the toss every time. The only time he called incorrectly was when he changed to heads.
The pitch was a little moist and tended to hold up early on. Arshdeep Patel took no wicket for four runs off his first four overs.
Later, he found sharper and more threatening bounce as New Zealand batters again succumbed to the lure of the pull shot. Three New Zealand top-order batters were out pulling in the first match at Auckland on Wednesday which India won by five wickets after bowling out New Zealand for 185.
New Zealand started poorly, losing three wickets inside the first nine overs.
Tim Seifert was out without scoring in the second over, popping a ball that held up sharply to Anshul Kamboj at midwicket from the bowling of Nabi. Nabi also removed Will Young who was cramped trying to defend a short ball on a fourth stump line, edging a catch to K.L. Rahul.
At the end of the 10-over power play, New Zealand was 29-5 and had hit only three fours and a six. New Zealand hit only two more boundaries between the 10th and 20th overs, after which it was 55-3.
Mitchell was dropped by Gill off Kamboj when he was 21 but subsequently battled through to his half century from 97 balls with five fours and two sixes.
He was out soon after, slicing a ball from Axar Patel to Kamboj in the deep. Santner followed quickly, caught behind by Rahul off a quick ball from Brar.
See AP’s full cricket coverage here
India's Auqib Nabi celebrates the wicket of New Zealand player Tim Seifert during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)
India's Gurnoor Brar bowls during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell bats during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell gestures during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)
New Zealand's Mitchell Santner bats during Game 2 of the one day international cricket between New Zealand and India, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Wellington, New Zealand. Chris Symes/Photosport via AP)
India's Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring 50 runs during the one day cricket international between New Zealand and India in Auckland, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via AP)
India's KL Rahul and New Zealand's Nathan Smith, right, shake hands following the one day cricket international between New Zealand and India in Auckland, New Zealand, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (Joshua Devenie/Photosport via AP)
