The Atlanta Hawks routed the Washington Wizards 126-96 at State Farm Arena on Thursday, February 26, with newcomers Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum combining for 58 points against their former team.
Kispert, making a career-high 33 points, scored 22 in the first half after entering with 4:56 remaining in the opening quarter, going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc over a 10-minute stretch. He finished 6-of-11 from three-point range for the night.
McCollum added 25 points, six rebounds, and three assists, including a 27-foot three-pointer and a free throw just before halftime that extended Atlanta’s lead to 75-56. Dyson Daniels contributed a double-double with 13 points, 11 assists, four rebounds, and five steals, tying his season high.
The Hawks’ bench also contributed, and Atlanta shot 42-of-91 from the field (46%) and 13-of-39 from deep (33%), while winning the rebounding battle 56-44. The team improved to 30-31 and has now won three straight games.
Washington was limited without Anthony Davis and Trae Young due to injuries, while Jonathan Kuminga and Zaccharie Risacher started in place of Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker for Atlanta. Will Riley and Tre Johnson led the Wizards with 14 points each, while the team shot just 36% overall and 27% from three-point range.
The victory keeps Atlanta in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, 15 games above .500 and in striking distance of the playoff picture. Meanwhile, Washington falls to 16-42 and faces mounting pressure at the bottom of the standings.
The Hawks host Portland on Sunday night, while the Wizards welcome Toronto on Saturday, both teams looking to regroup ahead of crucial late-season games.
