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01/06 20:36 CST CJ McCollum steadies Wizards in 4th quarter of 120-112 win over
Magic
CJ McCollum steadies Wizards in 4th quarter of 120-112 win over Magic
By BEN NUCKOLS
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) --- CJ McCollum scored 27 points and steadied the Wizards after
they nearly blew a 26-point lead as Washington held on for a 120-112 victory
over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
Alex Sarr added 23 points for the young and suddenly competitive Wizards, who
have won five of seven. Washington, in the midst of a yearslong rebuild, began
the season 3-20 but has gone 7-5 since.
The Wizards' inexperience showed after they took an 89-63 lead on Justin
Champagnie's 3-pointer in the third quarter. Orlando cut the deficit to 14
points by the end of the period and continued its rally as Washington began the
fourth quarter by going 2 of 10 from the field.
Goga Bitadze's layup got the Magic within 107-105 with 5:03 left, and Orlando
could sense the biggest comeback victory in franchise history. But McCollum
found Sarr for an alley-oop, then followed with a midrange jumper and a
3-pointer to put Washington ahead by nine.
Another 3 by McCollum made it 117-107 with 1:52 remaining.
Reserve Jase Richardson led the Magic with 20 points and Desmond Bane scored 15.
The Magic have not won consecutive games since winning three straight from Nov.
25-Dec. 1, before leading scorer Franz Wagner suffered a high ankle sprain that
has sidelined him for the past month. Orlando still entered play leading the
Southeast Division and was sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Orlando was missing another starter in Jalen Suggs, who suffered an MCL
contusion in his right knee in a loss at Chicago on Jan. 2. Suggs has not been
cleared for on-court activity, coach Jamahl Mosley said before the game.
Up next
Magic: At Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
Wizards: At Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
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