Bilal Coulibaly scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Washington Wizards (2-2) to a 133-120 victory over the Atlanta Hawks (2-3), marking Washington’s second win over Atlanta in just three days.
With Coulibaly leading the charge, Jordan Poole and Jonas Valanciunas contributed essential support, scoring 24 and 22 points, respectively, to power the Wizards’ offense.
Washington’s strong start and balanced scoring allowed them to take control early and set the tone for a dominant fourth quarter, where they surged with a 16-4 run to widen their lead.
For Atlanta, Trae Young posted impressive numbers with 35 points and 15 assists, but Washington’s defense held him in check after his 24-point first half.
Despite Young’s efforts, the Hawks struggled to keep up in the second half as they missed key players Dyson Daniels, De’Andre Hunter, and Bogdan Bogdanovic due to injuries.
The Wizards’ fourth-quarter push included key contributions from Corey Kispert, who hit timely three-pointers, while rookies Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George added perimeter scoring during Washington’s scoring run.
Sarr, the second overall pick of the 2024 draft, continued his personal rivalry with Atlanta’s top pick, Zaccharie Risacher, who finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
On the defensive end, Valanciunas proved invaluable for Washington, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing six assists in a game where Washington maintained a steady lead.
Washington’s bench also played a pivotal role, with Kispert adding 16 points and Jared Butler providing key ball movement that kept Atlanta’s defense off balance.
Without starting forward Kyle Kuzma, the Wizards relied on Coulibaly’s offensive prowess and Poole’s playmaking to extend their lead against an Atlanta team weakened by injuries.
