Hawks Make Former Wizards Pay in 126-96 Blowout

There’s something poetic about a revenge game, even if neither player would call it that. CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert walked back into the Atlanta Hawks locker room, looked across the court at their former Washington Wizards teammates, and promptly put on a clinic.

Final score: Hawks 126, Wizards 96.

It wasn’t close. It was never going to be close.

Kispert Catches Fire from Downtown

Let’s start with the guy who stole the night. Corey Kispert came off the bench and delivered the kind of performance that makes coaches second-guess their starting lineups. He finished with a career-high 33 points, going 6-of-11 from three-point range—including a scorching 5-for-5 stretch from beyond the arc in just 10 minutes of first-quarter action.

Think about that. Five threes. Ten minutes. Pure fire.

He had 22 of those points before halftime, doing the kind of damage that effectively ended whatever competitive spirit Washington had walking into State Farm Arena. There was no comeback brewing after that. The Wizards were just trying to survive.

McCollum Sets the Table

While Kispert was lighting it up from deep, CJ McCollum was playing the role of the seasoned veteran who simply doesn’t let moments get too big. His 27-foot three-pointer just before halftime—followed by a free throw—was the kind of dagger that says, we’re done here.

Together, McCollum and Kispert combined for 58 points against the very team that traded them to Atlanta for Trae Young back in January. If that storyline doesn’t get your blood pumping as a Hawks fan, nothing will.

Daniels Does a Little Bit of Everything

It’s easy to get lost in the scoring explosion and overlook what Dyson Daniels brought to the table. But ignoring his stat line would be a mistake. Thirteen points, 11 assists, five steals—the last figure tying his season high.

Daniels is becoming one of the most disruptive defensive forces in the Eastern Conference, and nights like this are exactly why. He was everywhere. Setting up teammates, picking pockets, controlling the tempo. His fingerprints were all over this win.

Hawks Shorthanded but Still Dominant

It’s worth noting what Atlanta was dealing with heading into this one. Jalen Johnson (hip) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (foot) both sat out, forcing Jonathan Kuminga and Zaccharie Risacher into the starting lineup. Kuminga responded with 17 points and nine rebounds. Risacher added eight points and six boards.

That kind of depth? That’s a team built for the long haul.

Washington, meanwhile, was missing Anthony Davis and Trae Young—two players they were counting on to anchor their future. Their absence didn’t change the result, but it did add another layer of sadness to an already difficult Wizards season.

Hawks Climbing in the Southeast Division

With the win, Atlanta improved to 30-31 on the season, third in the Southeast Division. Orlando (31-27) and Miami (31-29) still sit ahead of them, but the Hawks are within striking distance. Washington falls further back at 16-42, firmly entrenched at the bottom of the division.

The path is there. The talent is clearly there. The Hawks just need to keep stacking wins.

A Statement Game, Whatever They Say

Neither McCollum nor Kispert is likely to talk about this as “revenge.” That’s not how professionals frame it. But sometimes, the scoreboard speaks louder than any postgame quote ever could.

126-96. Fifty-eight combined points. In front of 15,828 fans at State Farm Arena, who got exactly what they paid for.

For Atlanta, it wasn’t just a win—it was a message.