With the Wizards’ schedule for the 2022-23 regular season now released, it’s time to break down some of the season’s exciting matchups. The upcoming campaign is highlighted by an opening slate packed with home games, a post-Christmas back-to-back against two of the league’s best teams, an MLK Day matchup with the defending-champion Warriors and much more.
October 21 vs. Chicago // 7 p.m. // Capital One Arena
After opening the season two days prior in Indiana, the Wizards return to D.C. for their 2022-23 home opener, hosting the Bulls at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena. Led once again by All-NBA guard DeMar DeRozan and All-Star guard Zach LaVine, the Bulls backcourt is one of the best in the NBA. In two games against Chicago last season, Bradley Beal averaged 26.5 points and 11.5 assists per game, including a career-high 17 dimes in the teams’ matchup on New Years Day.
October 30 at Boston // 6 p.m. // TD Garden
After a stretch of three-of-four at home, Washington takes to the road again for a showdown with the defending Eastern Conference champions. Led by Jayson Tatum, who averaged over 25.0 points per game in both the 2021-22 regular season and postseason, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart – as well newcomers Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Galinari, the Celtics are primed for another strong season.
The Wizards played well against Boston last season, splitting the season series, including a nine-point win in Boston in the opening week of the campaign. Beal did a little bit of everything in his three games against the Celtics, averaging 24.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
November 13 vs. Memphis // 6 p.m. // Capital One Arena
One week after a meeting in Memphis, the Wizards and Grizzlies meet again in D.C. on November 13. The two teams split their two-game series last season with each team winning at home. The key for Washington will be slowing down Memphis’ star guard Ja Morant. In the Wizards’ win over the Grizzlies last November, Washington held Morant to 11 points on 4-17 (.235) shooting. Morant, however, had his way with the Wizards defense in their second matchup, scoring 34 points on 15-27 (.556) shooting en route to a win.
December 10 vs. LA Clippers // 7 p.m. // Capital One Arena
Former Wizards guard John Wall, whose tenure in D.C. included five All-Star Game appearances and an All-NBA nod in 2016-17, will his play his first game in front of the Washington fans since he was traded to Houston ahead of the 2020-21 season. Wall returned to Capital One Arena that year with the Rockets, but did not play in front of fans due to health and safety protocols at the venue. Wall signed with the Clippers this offseason, joining All-NBA wings Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to make up one of the NBA’s most dynamic perimeter rotations.
December 14 at Denver // 7 p.m. // Ball Arena
Excluding Beal’s re-signing in July, the biggest move of the Wizards’ offseason was the trade with the Nuggets that brought Monte Morris and Will Barton to D.C. in exchange for veterans Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. All four players will meet their former teams for the first time on December 14 in Denver. Morris, widely regarded as one of the best back-up guards in the NBA over the first four years of his career, moved into a starting role last season and averaged career highs in both points (12.6) and assists (4.4). Barton enters his 11th season in the NBA, having spent the last seven-and-a-half seasons with the Nuggets.
December 27-28 vs. Philadelphia & Phoenix // 7 p.m. // Capital One Arena
Coming off three days of rest, the Wizards host a pair of title contenders on back-to-back nights at Capital One Arena with both games set to tip at 7 p.m. First, Washington hosts Joel Embiid, James Harden and the 76ers in the teams’ third matchup of the season. The Wizards will look to carry over some of their success against the Sixers from last season. Washington won two of the teams’ three meetings, including a three-point win in February led by a 24-point performance from Kyle Kuzma.
Less than 24 hours later, the Wizards take on Chris Paul, Devin Booker and the Suns, who went 2-0 against the Wizards last season on their way to the best regular season record in the NBA.
January 16 vs. Golden State // 3 p.m. // Capital One Arena
In a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day tradition, the Wizards are set to host a matinee matchup in D.C. – this time against the defending-champion Warriors. In last season’s home matchup with the Warriors – who are once again led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole – the Wizards won by eight in a game played without Curry and Beal. Corey Kispert led the way for Washington with a career-high 25 points, most of which came by way of his career-high six 3-pointers. Kristaps Porzingis (23 points) also crossed the 20-point threshold in the win.
April 9 vs. Houston // 1 p.m. // Capital One Arena
The Wizards wrap up the regular season with a stretch of three home games in six days, capped by a Sunday afternoon showdown with the Rockets. Washington dropped both matchups with Houston last season despite strong showings from Beal (27 points), Kuzma (24 points, nine rebounds) and Porzingis (22 points, 13 rebounds).
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