NBA Notes: Wizards, CJ McCollum, Lakers, LeBron James, Grizzlies

Wizards

The Wizards made things interesting. Nearly too interesting.

CJ McCollum scored 27 points and helped Washington steady itself late after a massive lead vanished, holding off the Magic 120-112 on Tuesday night.

Alex Sarr added 23 points for a Wizards team that suddenly looks competitive. Washington has now won five of seven after opening the season 3-20.

The rebuild is still ongoing, but the nights are no longer automatic losses.

The Wizards led by 26 after Justin Champagnie’s three made it 89-63 in the third quarter. That’s when the inexperience showed.

Orlando trimmed the margin to 14 by the end of the period, then watched Washington open the fourth quarter by missing eight of its first 10 shots.

Goga Bitadze’s layup cut the deficit to 107-105 with just over five minutes left. The building tightened. Then McCollum took over.

He found Sarr for an alley-oop, hit a midrange jumper, then buried a three. Another triple made it 117-107 with 1:52 remaining, and that was that.

Lakers

The Lakers leaned on star power and shot-making to put away the spiraling Pelicans 111-103.

LeBron James scored 30 points. Luka Doncic finished with 30 points and 10 assists, punctuating the night with a pair of off-balance, shot-clock-beating threes that sucked the air out of the building.

Deandre Ayton chipped in 18 points and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last five. The Pelicans, meanwhile, dropped their eighth straight.

New Orleans had chances. Trey Murphy poured in a career-high 41 points. Zion Williamson scored 15, and rookie Derik Queen added 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Pelicans even led by nine late in the third.

Then came the run.

The Lakers opened the fourth quarter on an 18-4 burst. Two deep threes from James. One from Dalton Knecht. A pair of baskets inside by Ayton. Los Angeles went up 97-90 and never let New Orleans closer than four the rest of the way.

Grizzlies

The Grizzlies finally caught a break.

Cam Spencer scored 21 points, including five in the final 1:26, as Memphis edged the Spurs 106-105, snapping a four-game losing streak.

Spencer’s 10-foot baseline jumper with 36.5 seconds left proved to be the difference. San Antonio had one last look, but De’Aaron Fox’s pull-up jumper with five seconds remaining was blocked by Santi Aldama.

Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points in his return after missing two games, but it wasn’t enough.

Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points for Memphis. Jock Landale finished with 19. Spencer also posted eight rebounds and eight assists in one of his most complete performances of the season.

Close one. Memphis needed it.