NBA Cup 2025: Wizards blow out Hawks to avoid elimination, end 14-game losing skid

The Washington Wizards’s losing skid is over.

The Wizards managed to fend off elimination from the NBA Cup on Tuesday night while picking up what is just their second win of the season. Washington cruised to a stunning blowout 132-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks at Capital One Arena. That marked the franchise’s first win in more than a month, and their first home win since last April.

The Wizards erupted out of the gate and never looked back. They opened the game on an 18-2 run, and then out-scored the Hawks 45-23 in the first period to take a huge lead instantly.

The Wizards went a perfect 8-of-8 from behind the arc as a group in the first 12 minutes, too, thanks to four made 3-pointers from both CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. That was the longest streak of made 3-pointers to start a game in Wizards franchise history, and the longest streak anywhere in the league since 2023.

McCollum entered halftime with 27 points after making three more from behind the arc, which helped carry them to a 20-point lead at the break. From there, the rest was easy. The Wizards pushed their lead to 33 points at the end of the third, and then rolled to the 19-point win.

Kristaps Porzingis led the Hawks with 22 points and eight rebounds, and Onyeka Okongwu had 20 points off the bench. The Hawks now sit at 11-8 on the year, and just 1-2 in NBA Cup play — though they still hold quite an advantage over the Wizards in point differential. They had won seven of their last nine entering Tuesday’s loss, too.

McCollum finished with 46 points on 10 made 3-pointers in the win. Alex Sarr added with 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Kispert had 19 points. He left the game early due to an apparent thumb injury, though further specifics aren’t yet known.

The Wizards now hold a 2-15 record, and are also 1-2 in NBA Cup play. While they are one of the worst teams in the league so far this fall, and they have an uphill battle ahead of them if they’re going to rally to make what would be their first postseason appearance since 2021, they’ve not been eliminated from the NBA Cup just yet.

NBA Cup Night 5 scoreboard

NBA Cup standings

East Group A

• Toronto Raptors (3-0, +53)

• Cleveland Cavaliers (2-1, +34)

• Washington Wizards (1-2, -44)

• Indiana Pacers (0-2, -31)

East Group B

• Detroit Pistons (2-0, +27)

• Boston Celtics (1-2, -20)

• Philadelphia 76ers (0-2, -10)

East Group C

• Milwaukee Bucks (2-0, +16)

• New York Knicks (1-1, -2)

• Charlotte Hornets (0-2, -18)

West Group A

• Oklahoma City Thunder (2-0, +63)

• Minnesota Timberwolves (2-1, +53)

• Sacramento Kings (0-2, -45)

West Group B

• Los Angeles Lakers (2-0 +19)

• Los Angeles Clippers (2-0, +2)

• Memphis Grizzlies (1-1, +9)

• Dallas Mavericks (1-2, -13)

• New Orleans Pelicans (0-3, -17)

West Group C

• Denver Nuggets (2-1, +26)

• San Antonio Spurs (1-1, +10)

• Portland Trail Blazers (2-1, -18)

• Golden State Warriors (1-2, -28)

• Houston Rockets (1-2, +10)