When CJ McCollum drained his 10th three-pointer with 4:12 left in the third quarter, the crowd at Capital One Arena erupted—not just for the shot, but for the relief. After 14 straight losses stretching back to late October, the Washington Wizards finally won. They beat the Atlanta Hawks 132-113 on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in a performance that felt like a punch to the gut for Atlanta and a lifeline for D.C. fans who’d nearly given up hope. McCollum, 33, didn’t just score—he resurrected a team. He finished with 46 points, 10 threes, and zero hesitation. Just three misses all night. One shy of his personal best. One shy of the franchise record. And it wasn’t a fluke. It was a statement.
A 45-point first quarter that changed everything
The Wizards didn’t just win—they announced themselves. Opening the game with a 45-point first quarter, their highest-scoring period in over a decade, they left Atlanta stunned. By the time the buzzer sounded on the opening stanza, Washington led 45-16. Broadcast footage showed CJ McCollum launching from the corner, then the wing, then the top of the key—each shot falling with terrifying consistency. The Hawks, who’d won their last two games, looked lost. No one could guard McCollum. No one could close out. And when Alex Sarr, the 20-year-old French center, added 27 points and 11 rebounds, the Hawks had no answer inside, either. The lead ballooned to 33 points before the second unit took over. It wasn’t pretty, but it was necessary.Fractures in Atlanta’s armor
For the Atlanta Hawks, this wasn’t just a loss—it was a reckoning. Kristaps Porzingis, the 29-year-old Latvian big man, managed 22 points in 32 minutes, but he was constantly double-teamed. Onyeka Okongwu, the 23-year-old Los Angeles native, chipped in 20 points, but his defensive effort was overwhelmed by Washington’s relentless ball movement. Atlanta’s two-game win streak, which had briefly revived their playoff hopes, evaporated in a blur of open threes and fast-break layups. Their worst defeat since a 138-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors on October 22, 2025, exposed a team still searching for identity. Coach Nate McMillan called it "a wake-up call," but the truth? It was a mirror.The Wizards’ young core steps up
This wasn’t just McCollum’s night. It was a collective breakout. Alex Sarr played like a future All-Star, attacking the rim with surprising aggression. Corey Kispert, the Iowa native, poured in 19 points before leaving midway through the third quarter with a thumb injury—a concerning development for a team already thin on wing depth. Even the rookies shined: Bub Carrington, the 19-year-old Baltimore guard, dished out six assists and looked like he belonged. The Wizards shot 52.9% from the field and 45.5% from deep—season highs both. They made their first seven threes. Seven. No team in the NBA had ever opened a game that hot this season.A win that means more than the box score
This victory ended the Wizards’ 14-game skid—their longest since 2009-10, when they lost 16 straight under Flip Saunders. It was their first home win since April 2, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings. For a franchise that’s been stuck in rebuild mode for five years, this wasn’t just about breaking a streak. It was about belief. The Washington Wizards now sit at 2-15, still last in the Atlantic Division. But for the first time in months, players were smiling after the game. Fans were chanting McCollum’s name. Even the front office, long criticized for its slow rebuild, looked like they might finally be on the right track.What’s next? A test of momentum
The Hawks, now 4-13, host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, November 28, 2025, needing to recover fast before the In-Season Tournament Cup play resumes. The Wizards, also 1-2 in the Cup, travel to face the Indiana Pacers on the same night. For Washington, the real challenge isn’t the next game—it’s whether this performance was a flash in the pan or the start of something real. Can McCollum keep this up? Can Sarr maintain his composure against tougher defenses? Can Kispert return without missing a beat?One thing’s clear: the NBA doesn’t reward patience. It rewards execution. And on Tuesday night, the Wizards finally executed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is a 46-point, 10-three-pointer game in NBA history?
Only five players in NBA history have recorded at least 45 points and 10 three-pointers in a single game. The last was Stephen Curry in 2021. CJ McCollum’s performance ties him with Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard for the most threes in a game by a player aged 33 or older. It’s the highest-scoring game by a Wizard since Gilbert Arenas dropped 60 in 2007.
Why did the Wizards’ first quarter matter so much?
A 45-point first quarter is the highest by any NBA team since the 2021-22 season. It’s also the first time the Wizards have scored 45+ in any quarter since 2018. That explosive start demoralized Atlanta, forced them into rushed decisions, and allowed Washington to play with freedom the rest of the game. Momentum isn’t just psychological—it’s statistical.
Is Alex Sarr the real deal?
Sarr’s 27-point, 11-rebound night against a physical Hawks frontcourt suggests yes. He’s the first 20-year-old Wizard to post a 25-10 game since Dwight Howard in 2006. His mobility and footwork are elite for his size, and he’s becoming the interior complement McCollum needs. Scouts are already calling him a potential All-Star candidate by 2027.
What’s the impact of Corey Kispert’s thumb injury?
Kispert’s injury is a major concern. He’s Washington’s most reliable catch-and-shoot option outside McCollum. With him out, the Wizards’ spacing collapses. He’s expected to miss 2-4 weeks, forcing coach Wes Unseld Jr. to rely more on Bilal Coulibaly and Cam Whitmore—both talented but inconsistent. This could delay any momentum the team just gained.
How does this affect the Wizards’ playoff chances?
Realistically, they’re still out of contention. At 2-15, they’d need to go 30-15 the rest of the way just to reach .500—impossible given their schedule. But this win could be the foundation for next season. Winning breeds confidence. And in a rebuild, confidence is the most valuable currency.
What does this mean for the NBA In-Season Tournament?
Both teams are 1-2 in the Cup, so this result doesn’t change their path to elimination. But for the Wizards, it proves they can compete with playoff-caliber teams when they’re locked in. That’s critical for morale and future roster decisions. The tournament may be gimmicky, but for a team like Washington, every game is a chance to prove they’re moving in the right direction.
