Trae Young and Daniss Jenkins ejected after third-quarter scuffle in Wizards’ overtime win

Officials sent Trae Young of Washington and Detroit’s Daniss Jenkins to the locker room in the third quarter of Saturday’s preseason game at Capital One Arena after a heated exchange, the flashpoint in a night the Wizards eventually won 114-108 in overtime.

The exchange began moments after a Ron Holland dunk. As the two guards headed back the other way, Jenkins made contact with Young more than once, according to Bleacher Report, and the pair shoved each other and traded words. NBC Sports reported that officials first assessed a double technical for the pushing. When neither player disengaged, each was given a second technical, which meant an automatic ejection for both. Bleacher Report put the score at 62-60 in Washington’s favor when the game was stopped.

Neither team nor either player had commented publicly on the incident in the reports we reviewed, and there was no word on whether the league will review it.

How the night went for both guards

Young was a playmaker first and a scorer hardly at all. He handed out eight assists in 23 minutes, and NBC Sports noted that all eight came in a busy first quarter, when Washington scored 40 points and built a big cushion. He finished with two points on 1-of-4 shooting, missed both of his three-point tries and committed five turnovers.

Jenkins made the most of 18 minutes before his exit. He scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3 of 5 from deep, and added four assists with one turnover.

Detroit erased a 20-point deficit and tied the game 98-98 at the end of regulation before Washington pulled away 16-10 in overtime. Will Riley and Tre Johnson led the Wizards with 15 points apiece, Johnson hitting four threes. Ebuka Okorie topped Detroit with 14 points and six assists. The full box score is in the Game Center.

Why Washington is watching Young closely

The Wizards acquired the four-time All-Star from Atlanta in a January 7 trade, and injuries limited him to 15 games last season, according to Bleacher Report. NBC Sports pointed to the four-year, $212 million contract Young is playing on as the reason Washington needs him healthy and on the floor. Technicals have followed him before: Bleacher Report counted 13 in the 2024-25 season.

Jenkins, 25, begins his third season with the Pistons; Bleacher Report listed his averages from last year at 9.3 points and 3.9 assists. The teams meet again in the regular season on November 9.

What comes next

Washington hosts the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, October 12 at 7 p.m. ET (Game Center). The Pistons visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, October 14 at 8 p.m. ET (Game Center).