CJ McCollum delivered a career-high 46 points, including 10 three-pointers, as the Washington Wizards dominated the Atlanta Hawks 132-113 at Capital One Arena on Tuesday, November 25.
In a postgame interview, McCollum credited the team’s resilience for ending a 14-game losing streak. “Yeah, we did a good job. We’ve lost some close games throughout the season… but I think tonight we got off to a great start. In the third quarter, we withstood the runs and did enough to get the win,” he said.
The Wizards opened the game with a 45-point first quarter and a 77-point first half, both season highs, never trailing and extending their lead to as much as 33 points before the bench closed out the contest.
McCollum also highlighted the personal work that fueled his performance. “I put a lot of time in. I sacrificed a lot of time away from my family to get in the gym at night… a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out how to really master my craft and be more consistent with my jump shot,” he said.
Alex Sarr’s defensive presence was another key factor in the victory, with McCollum praising his athleticism and timing. “He’s great, man. He’s athletic. He’s got great timing… his motor is continuing to develop,” McCollum noted. Sarr finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring Washington’s interior defense and complementing McCollum’s perimeter dominance.
Corey Kispert added 19 points before exiting in the third quarter due to a thumb injury, helping the Wizards secure their first home win since April 2, 2025. Washington shot 50% from three-point range and 57% overall, while Atlanta managed just 17.6% from deep.
For the Hawks, Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points, Onyeka Okongwu added 20, and Jalen Johnson contributed seven points and seven rebounds, but Atlanta’s second-half struggles marked its worst loss since the October 22 season opener against Toronto.
The Wizards improved to 2-15 overall and 1-2 in NBA Cup play, while the Hawks dropped to 11-8 and 1-2 in the Cup. Washington will visit Indiana on Friday, and Atlanta hosts Cleveland in their next matchup.
