⚡ Streak Snapped in Spectacular Fashion: CJ McCollum's 46 Buries Hawks as Wizards Earn Second Win
⚡ Streak Snapped in Spectacular Fashion: CJ McCollum's 46 Buries Hawks as Wizards Earn Second Win
The Washington Wizards delivered the performance of their season, securing only their second victory and their first-ever NBA Cup win, by thoroughly dismantling the Atlanta Hawks 132-113 at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night.
The victory, which snaps a grueling 14-game losing streak, was an electric and unexpected outburst led by a historic shooting night from guard CJ McCollum, coupled with a dominant performance from rookie sensation Alex Sarr.
The Hawks, meanwhile, suffered one of their worst losses of the year, falling to 11-8 overall and a disappointing 1-2 in NBA Cup group play.
💣 A First Quarter Blitzkrieg
The outcome of the game was effectively decided in a blistering first quarter that saw the Wizards shoot the lights out. Washington jumped out to a stunning 18-2 lead and finished the quarter with an incredible 45 points—a season-high—on 65.2% shooting from the field.
The hot start was fueled by three-point shooting, as the Wizards made their first seven attempts and finished the quarter 8-for-11 (72.7%) from beyond the arc. The 45-23 deficit was a hole the talented Hawks team, even with All-Star Kristaps Porziņģis, could never climb out of, as the lead ballooned to as much as 33 points in the second half.
🌟 McCollum's Franchise Record Night
CJ McCollum was the undeniable catalyst, posting season highs with an astonishing 46 points and 10 made three-pointers.
McCollum was hyper-efficient, shooting 17-for-25 from the field and an incredible 10-for-13 from three-point range, tying the Wizards' single-game franchise record for three-point makes set by Trevor Ariza in 2014.
His barrage of shots broke the back of the Hawks' defense and provided the confidence boost Washington desperately needed to break their long skid.
⬆️ Sarr’s Statement Game
Equally impressive was the play of second-year center Alex Sarr. The 7-foot-1 Frenchman put together arguably the most complete performance of his young career, dominating the paint on both ends with:
27 points (on 11-for-15 shooting)
11 rebounds
2 steals
2 blocks
Sarr's combination of efficient offense and defensive presence helped the Wizards stifle the Hawks' interior attack, holding Atlanta to just 57.1% shooting in the paint. The home crowd showed their appreciation, greeting Sarr with "M-V-P!" chants during his trips to the foul line.
💔 Hawks’ Woes and Broken Streaks
The Atlanta Hawks looked sluggish and were overwhelmed by the Wizards' defensive pressure, leading to 18 turnovers.
Kristaps Porziņģis led the Hawks in scoring with 22 points, while Onyeka Okongwu added 20 points off the bench. However, the team's typically potent backcourt struggled to keep pace with Washington's scoring eruption.
Daniels’ Streak Comes to an End
In addition to the blowout loss, the night was historic for a different, unfortunate reason: Hawks guard Dyson Daniels’ remarkable streak of consecutive games with a steal came to an end. Daniels, who had recorded at least one steal in 70 straight regular-season games (the fourth-longest streak in NBA history), finished the night with zero steals, marking his first game without one in 349 days.
🏆 NBA Cup Implications
Both teams now sit at 1-2 in their respective NBA Cup group play. While the margin of victory helps the Wizards' slim chance of advancing as a wildcard, the Hawks' significant loss deals a major blow to their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
The Wizards will try to build on this morale-boosting win when they travel to Indiana to face the Pacers on Friday in their final Cup group game, while the Hawks will return home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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