In the grind of an NBA season, there are wins you expect, losses you absorb, and then there are nights where you simply refuse to die. Saturday night in Memphis was the latter for the Washington Wizards.
Staring up from the bottom of a 20-point hole against a scrappy Grizzlies squad, Washington didn’t fold. Instead, they clawed back, riding the hot hands of CJ McCollum and Kyshawn George to a 130-122 victory that felt like more than just a notch in the win column. It was a statement of resilience.
For a team that hasn’t tasted victory in Memphis since January 2018—a span of seven straight losses in the Grind City—this wasn’t just a road win. It was an exorcism.
A Tale of Two Halves
The early narrative didn’t look promising for the Wizards. The Grizzlies, despite a depleted roster that saw them suit up only nine players, came out swinging. Santi Aldama was playing out of his mind, torching the Wizards for a career-high 37 points. When you looked at the scoreboard midway through the contest, Memphis seemed comfortable, controlling the pace and the paint.
But the NBA is a game of runs, and the Wizards saved their best punch for the third quarter.
Coming out of the locker room, something clicked. The defensive rotations got tighter. The ball movement got crisper. Washington shot a blistering 63% in the third period, outscoring Memphis 42-27. The momentum shift was palpable. You could see the body language change on the Memphis bench as that comfortable cushion evaporated possession by possession.
CJ McCollum, the savvy veteran who has seen just about everything in this league, drove to the rim and laid it in as time expired. That bucket didn’t just count for two points; it tied the game at 95 and effectively hit the reset button entering the fourth.
The Youth Movement Steps Up
While McCollum provided the steady veteran presence with 28 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds, the night truly belonged to the Wizards’ young core.
Kyshawn George was spectacular. He played with a poise beyond his years, matching McCollum with 28 points of his own while filling the stat sheet with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. When the game got tight, George didn’t shy away. His sequence in the final minute—sinking three clutch free throws and blocking a Cam Spencer layup with 22 seconds left—sealed the deal.
“Hold up, LET KYSHAWN COOK,” the Wizards’ social media team posted during the game, and frankly, they weren’t wrong.
Then there was Alex Sarr. The big man was a force in the paint and on the perimeter, finishing with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. His biggest contribution, however, came from deep. With the game tied at 119 and the clock ticking down to 2:16, Sarr stepped into a 3-pointer that found the bottom of the net. That shot gave Washington a 121-119 lead that they would never relinquish.
Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson also chipped in, scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively. It was a collective effort from the kids, proving they can close out games in hostile environments.
Overcoming Adversity
It’s worth noting that Memphis was fighting an uphill battle of its own. Missing key pieces and losing Brandon Clarke to calf soreness in the first quarter, they were running on fumes by the end. But in this league, nobody feels sorry for you. You play who’s in front of you.
The Wizards took advantage of that fatigue. They pushed the pace, they crashed the boards (grabbing 64 total rebounds), and they attacked the rim.
When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 130-122. But the stats—47.5% shooting, 32 assists, the comeback—only tell half the story. The real story was the fight.
For a Washington team trying to build a culture and find an identity, wins like this matter. They teach a young roster that no deficit is insurmountable. They prove that on any given night, if you execute down the stretch, you can walk out of anywhere with a W.
Saturday night wasn’t just about snapping a losing streak in Memphis. It was about growing up. And for Wizards fans, that’s a reason to be excited.
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