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Wizards end monthlong losing streak with blowout win vs. Hawks

Washington Wizards guard CJ McCollum is fouled while shooting by Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson as Hawks guard Dyson Daniels defends in the second half at Capital One Arena. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Wizards end monthlong losing streak with stunning blowout win over Hawks

By Sean Keane | Last updated Nov 25, 2025 10:26 PM ET

After 31 winless days, the struggling Washington Wizards finally got a victory — and a blowout.

The NBA's worst team scored 45 points in the first quarter and led by 33 points after three quarters in a 132-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks. It was only the Wizards' second win of the season, but they made up for a season of frustration by pummeling a Hawks team that missed 10 of their first 11 shots and never recovered.

CJ McCollum starred in a game that could be an audition for a better team

The Wizards were led by a stellar game from CJ McCollum, who scored 46 points and made 10 three-pointers in 37 minutes. The 34-year-old McCollum is averaging 18.2 points for the Wizards after coming over in a salary-dump trade from the New Orleans Pelicans in the summer. To his credit, the veteran guard is playing well for a team that seemed headed for the top of the draft lottery by design.

McCollum is a consummate professional who is valuable as a veteran mentor for the extremely young Wizards, who have 10 players who are younger than Olivia Rodrigo (22). But he's also proving that he can provide shooting for whatever playoff team inevitably needs a scoring guard in the next few months. It's a win-win situation: The Wizards get more draft capital, and McCollum gets to play in meaningful games after the All-Star break.

CJ MCOLLUM IS PUTTING ON A SHOW.

42 points.
10-12 from three.

Wizards rolling in @emirates NBA Cup action vs. Atlanta! https://t.co/HlSJ2ZDQlf pic.twitter.com/hloA16824S
— NBA (@NBA) November 26, 2025

McCollum wasn't the only veteran showing out. Fellow 34-year-old trade candidate Khris Middleton had a season-high 12 assists for the Wizards Tuesday, a great addition to his audition tape for interested teams in two months.

Alex Sarr could be a franchise player for the Wizards

The season of losing doesn't seem to have disheartened last year's No. 2 pick, Alex Sarr, who had 27 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday. He's up to 18.7 PPG and 8.5 rebounds on the season, a significant jump from the 13 PPG and 6.5 rebounds he averaged as a rookie.

Sarr had two blocks and two steals on the defensive end facing a Hawks team with two pretty solid big men in Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu. He's blocking two shots per game this season with nearly as many blocked shots (30) as fouls (32).

The French big man is one of the few young Wizards who have shown he should be a part of the team going forward after their long and painful rebuild. Bilal Coulibaly is intriguing and only turned 21 in July, but his shot still needs a lot of work. Tre Johnson, 19, has seen his minutes dwindle and is now out injured.

Kyshawn George missed Tuesday's game with illness, but he's the other impressive young Wizard, averaging 16.5 points while making 44 percent of his threes. The Wizards still have little incentive to win as they hope for another high draft pick, but with massive cap space next summer, 2025-26 is looking like the last season for some young players to prove themselves before the the team adds quality vets who aren't on expiring deals.

For now, the Wizards must be happy simply to win again. And to show signs that it shouldn't be another month for them to record another W.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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