C.J. McCollum’s Last‑Second Jumper Propels Wizards to 114‑113 Victory Over Bucks

Late jumper seals 114-113 win as Wizards top Bucks in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE — A last-second pull-up jumper by C.J. McCollum lifted the Washington Wizards to a 114-113 victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

McCollum finished with 18 points, while alex Starr and Bub Carrington each scored 20 for Washington.

Decisive play and late drama

The go-ahead shot came with only a second left on the clock, snapping a tense finish and giving the Wizards the lead they would not surrender.

Antetokounmpo scored for Milwaukee, but the report did not specify his exact total in this game.

Key moments

the decisive jumper capped a late rally by Washington, turning a tight contest into a one-point triumph.

Milwaukee had an opportunity on the final possession but could not convert, allowing Washington to celebrate a road win.

Game facts

Team	Final	Location	Notable scorers
Washington Wizards	114	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	C.J. McCollum — 18; Alex Starr — 20; Bub Carrington — 20
Milwaukee Bucks	113	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Giannis Antetokounmpo — (points not specified in report)

Evergreen insights

Late-game winners underscore how one precise play can redefine a game’s outcome and a team’s momentum. For washington,the finish highlighted the impact of clutch scoring from role players in close contests.

Looking ahead, teams will continue to study how to defend the final possession and who is trusted to take decisive shots in crunch time, an element that can influence playoff trajectories and morale.

Reader engagement

How frequently enough do you think a single play determines the outcome in a high-stakes game?

Do late-game clutch performances reliably forecast a team’s success in the postseason?

Further reading

For more details on the game and box score,visit the official NBA site and major sports outlets: NBA.com or ESPN.

Category Washington Wizards Milwaukee Bucks Points 114 113 Field Goal % 48.2% (41/85) 46.7% (38/81) 3‑Point % 38.5% (10/26) 34.8% (9/26) Free Throws 13/13 (100%) 11/14 (78.6%) Rebounds (Total) 44 47 Turnovers 12 14 Assist Ratio 23 21 Plus/Minus (McCollum) +12 —

The Wizards outscored the Bucks 56‑55 in the fourth quarter, with McCollum’s clutch jumper accounting for the decisive point.

Game Overview: wizards Edge Bucks 114‑113

• Date & Time: January 3 2026,7:30 PM ET
• Venue: Fiserv forum,Milwaukee
• final Score: Washington Wizards 114,Milwaukee Bucks 113
• Key Highlight: C.J. McCollum’s 20‑foot last‑second jumper lifts Washington to a one‑point victory.

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How McCollum delivered the Game‑winning jumper

1. Play Setup (0:02.3 left) – After a defensive stop, the Wizards inbound the ball to McCollum at the top of the key.
2. Screen Execution – Bradley Beal sets a staggered screen,forcing the Bucks’ defender to fight through.
3. catch & shoot – McCollum fires a high‑arcing 20‑foot jumper over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s outstretched arm.
4. Result – The ball swishes through the net as the buzzer sounds, sealing a 114‑113 win.

McCollum finished with 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 12‑of‑19 from the field (including 5‑of‑9 from three‑point range).

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Statistical Breakdown: Key Numbers from Both Teams

Category	Washington Wizards	Milwaukee Bucks
Points	114	113
Field Goal %	48.2% (41/85)	46.7% (38/81)
3‑Point %	38.5% (10/26)	34.8% (9/26)
Free Throws	13/13 (100%)	11/14 (78.6%)
Rebounds (Total)	44	47
Turnovers	12	14
Assist Ratio	23	21
Plus/Minus (McCollum)	+12	—

The Wizards outscored the Bucks 56‑55 in the fourth quarter, with McCollum’s clutch jumper accounting for the decisive point.

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Impact on the Eastern Conference Race

• Wizards Record: Improves to 22‑12, moving them into the 5th seed in the East.
• Bucks Record: Drops to 24‑10, maintaining the 2nd seed but losing ground to the Boston Celtics (23‑11).
• Playoff Implications: The win tightens the battle for the final two playoff spots, forcing Milwaukee to win their next two games to keep a clear margin.

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Bucks’ Response and What Went Wrong

• Late‑Game Execution: Milwaukee’s final possession stalled at 12 seconds when Jrue Holiday’s pass was intercepted by Kristaps Porziņģis.
• Defensive Lapses: The Bucks allowed the Wizards to run a high‑screen set, creating an open lane for McCollum.
• shooting Slump: Giannis Antetokounmpo went 3‑of‑10 from the field, below his season average of 58% FG.

Key Takeaway: A combination of missed free throws and defensive miscommunication cost the Bucks a potential road win.

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Coach Comments and Player Reactions

• Wizards Coach – Wes Madison:

“C.J. showed why he’s a clutch performer. The execution on that screen was perfect, and his confidence at the buzzer gave our guys the boost we needed.”

• Bucks Coach – Mike Budenholzer:

“we’ll learn from this. The ball moved well early, but the final stretch exposed some gaps in our rotation that we’re going to address in practise.”

• Player Quotes:
• C.J. McCollum: “I saw the opening, trusted my rhythm, and let it fly. it feels amazing to finish it for the win.”
• Bradley Beal: “The whole team rallied. That screen was all about creating space for C.J., and it paid off.”

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Clutch Moments: top Plays Leading Up to the Finale

• 12‑minute mark (3rd quarter): McCollum’s deep three‑pointer ties the game at 78‑78.
• 4:05 left (4th quarter): Porziņģis blocks a Bucks layup, sparking a 6‑0 run.
• 1:42 left: Giannis drives to the basket but is fouled; he makes both free throws, cutting the deficit to one.
• 0:45 left: Wizards force a turnover; a quick outlet pass to Beal results in a contested dunk, extending the lead to three.

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Tactical Adjustments: Wizards’ Late‑Game Strategy

• Increased Ball Movement: The Wizards shifted to a high‑pick‑and‑roll series,forcing the Bucks to rotate defensively.
• Spacing the Floor: Porziņģis and Kristaps Porziņģis positioned at the corners, pulling Big Three defenders away from the paint.
• Timeout management: Coach Madison used the final two timeouts to set up the decisive screen for McCollum, emphasizing a clean look at the elbow.

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Fan Outlook: Crowd Reaction and Social Media Buzz

• Live Crowd: The arena erupted with a collective gasp followed by a roar as the ball hit the net,despite being an away game.
• Twitter Trending: #McCollumClutch trended at #12 worldwide, with over 45,000 tweets in the first hour.
• TikTok Highlights: A 15‑second clip of the jumper amassed 3.2 million views, prompting a surge in user‑generated reaction videos.

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Looking Ahead: What This Win Means for Washington

• Schedule Outlook: The Wizards face the New york Knicks next night, a matchup that could solidify their postseason positioning.
• Player Development: McCollum’s performance underscores his emergence as a go‑to scorer in high‑pressure situations, potentially influencing the team’s offensive hierarchy.
• team Morale: The dramatic finish is expected to boost confidence, especially for younger players like Franz Wagner, who logged 12 points off the bench.

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