NBA: CJ McCollum scores 50, Pelicans end 11-game slide
New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) celebrates after a 3-point basket that was later ruled a 2-point basket during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
CJ McCollum tied a career-high with 50 points and the host New Orleans Pelicans ended an 11-game losing streak by defeating the Washington Wizards 132-120 in the NBA on Friday night.
McCollum made 18 of 27 field-goal attempts, including 10 3-pointers on 16 attempts, as the Pelicans won for just the second time in 22 games. Trey Murphy III added 17 points, Brandon Boston scored 13 off the bench and Yves Missi had 12 points and 11 rebounds as six Pelicans scored in double figures.
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50 POINTS.
10 THREES.What a night for @CJMcCollum 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1olSeo0Qmg
— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2025
Jordan Poole scored 26, Alexandre Sarr had 19, Malcolm Brogdon added 16 and Kyle Kuzma tallied 14 to pace the Wizards.
Article continues after this advertisementMcCollum scored eight points as New Orleans began the third quarter with a 17-4 run that gave it a 79-72 lead.
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Carlton Carrington answered with a field goal for the Wizards, but McCollum scored seven points and the Pelicans opened their biggest lead of the quarter, 92-83, with 4:52 to go in the quarter. Poole scored four points to start a 14-5 run by Washington that tied the score at 97 at the end of the third quarter.
Jordan Hawkins made a 3-pointer to tie the score at 101 and start a 10-0 run that gave New Orleans a 108-101 lead. Justin Champagnie’s field goal ended the run, but the Pelicans scored the next 10 points to take a 15-point lead.
The Pelicans scored the first six points of the game and McCollum had eight in the first 3:33 of the game as New Orleans took a 13-4 lead. Champagnie scored five points during a 12-2 run that pushed the Wizards into a 16-15 lead.
The lead changed hands four more times before Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas scored four each to help Washington take a 37-29 lead into the second quarter.
McCollum made two 3-pointers and Boston and Jose Alvarado made one each to help New Orleans take a 43-42 lead. That was the first of 16 lead changes in the second quarter and the score was tied four times before the Wizards scored the final seven points to take a 68-62 halftime lead. –Field Level Media
