Washington (AFP) – Washington’s C.J. McCollum scored a season-high 46 points, and the NBA-worst Wizards snapped a 14-game losing streak on Tuesday by routing Atlanta 132-113 in an NBA Cup contest. The Wizards improved to 2-15 with their first home victory of the season and first-ever triumph in the mid-season tournament, staying in Cup playoff contention.
“We did a good job,” McCollum said. “We lost some close games throughout the season and we kind of let ourselves down in terms of execution and having lost. But I think tonight we got off to a good start in the third quarter, we withstood their runs and did enough to get the win.”
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McCollum hit 17-of-25 shots from the floor and 10-of-13 from three-point range, tying Trevor Ariza for the Wizards’ record for three-pointers in a game and being one shy of his career high for threes in a game. “I put a lot of time in. I sacrifice a lot of time away from my family to get in the gym at night,” McCollum said. “These results, they come from hard work in the dark, a lot of sleepless nights trying to figure out how to master my craft and be more consistent with my jump shot.”
French center Alex Sarr added 27 points and 11 rebounds while Corey Kispert had 19 points for Washington. The Wizards seized a 45-23 lead after the first quarter, scoring their most points in any opening quarter since 1990 against Denver. Washington took a 45-16 edge by hitting 15-of-20 shots from the floor and 8-of-8 from three-point range, with Kispert and McCollum each starting 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Former Wizard Kristaps Porzingis had 22 points to lead the Hawks, who joined Washington at 1-2 in Cup Group A play.
– Magic grab group lead –
NBA Cup group play concludes with games Wednesday and Friday, with Toronto having taken the first of eight playoff spots by capturing East Group A. Three group winners and a wildcard team from each conference will advance to the knockout stage, with point difference serving as a tie-breaker. Orlando set the stage for a Group B title showdown Friday at Detroit with a 144-103 romp at Philadelphia.
“It’s going to be a really good game,” Orlando’s Franz Wagner said. “It’s going to be physical. We have to be ready for that.” The Magic set a club record for points in any half in taking an 86-60 halftime lead over the 76ers. The old mark was 83 in a 1990 second half against Denver. Orlando added a 17-0 run in the third quarter and cruised to victory with a season-high point total.
“Just got into a rhythm. We got hot,” Wagner said. “A really good team win for us.” Orlando reserve Anthony Black, who led the Magic with 31 points, had a career high in the first half alone with 27 points, 20 of them in the second quarter.
Orlando’s Jalen Suggs was ejected after a melee that began with 26.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter when Andre Drummond squared up to punch Orlando’s Wendell Carter. Suggs shoved Drummond and Jabari Walker and was issued two technical fouls, departing with four points, 11 assists, and five rebounds. The loss ended Philadelphia’s Cup playoff hopes while Orlando went to 3-0 atop Group B.
Detroit can match the Magic with a group victory at Boston on Wednesday, with the Pistons hoping to boost their overall win streak to a club-record 14 games.
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