McCollum’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Wizards Past Bucks to Close 2025

The Washington Wizards ended the calendar year with a jolt of confidence Wednesday night, stealing a 114–113 victory from the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on a dramatic final possession. With one second left on the clock, CJ McCollum turned a defensive rebound into a coast-to-coast winner, slipping past defenders and pulling up along the baseline to silence the home crowd.

The bucket not only decided the game, it also marked a milestone moment for McCollum, who finished with 18 points and crossed the 16,000-point threshold for his career. For a veteran guard often tasked with steadying a young roster, the sequence was a reminder of why Washington leans on him in tight moments.

Washington had not reached that position by accident. The Wizards pieced together production from across the lineup, with multiple players stepping forward at different points to counter Milwaukee’s star power and keep the contest within reach until the final horn.

For a franchise searching for consistency, the victory represented more than a single road win. It was a statement finish to 2025 — one that combined youthful energy, bench depth, and late-game poise against one of the Eastern Conference’s established contenders.

1. The Shot That Defined the Night

The final possession unfolded quickly. After securing a defensive rebound, McCollum pushed the ball up the floor with urgency, using a sharp crossover to shed Myles Turner before drifting toward the baseline. As AJ Green closed out, McCollum rose into a contested pull-up jumper. The ball fell cleanly through the net with one second remaining, completing Washington’s comeback from a three-point deficit in the closing half-minute. Moments earlier, the Bucks had seized a 113–110 lead, threatening to snatch away a game they had trailed for much of the fourth quarter. McCollum’s answer was immediate, scoring the Wizards’ final four points to erase the deficit. In the locker room afterward, teammates described the sequence as instinctive, the product of experience meeting opportunity. For McCollum, it was another entry in a long list of clutch finishes that have defined his career.

2. Young Wizards Carry the Load

While McCollum delivered the final blow, Washington’s foundation was built earlier in the night. Rookie forward Alex Sarr posted one of his most complete performances of the season with 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, anchoring the interior on both ends. Bub Carrington matched him with 20 points of his own, highlighted by three straight three-pointers early in the fourth quarter that pushed the Wizards ahead 99–91. Each shot seemed to sap momentum from a Milwaukee team beginning to stir. Off the bench, Justin Champagnie supplied a critical spark. His 12 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks underscored Washington’s edge in energy, particularly during stretches when the starters rested. Together, Washington’s reserves overwhelmed Milwaukee’s bench, outscoring it 52–23. Carrington and Champagnie combined for 32 points and shot 50 percent from beyond the arc, tilting the game in the Wizards’ favor well before the final minute.

3. Bucks Rally Falls Just Short

Milwaukee relied heavily on Giannis Antetokounmpo, who delivered 33 points and 13 rebounds while orchestrating a late surge. After falling behind by eight early in the fourth, the Bucks tightened defensively and began to chip away. Antetokounmpo and Ryan Rollins spearheaded the comeback, tying the score at 110–110 with just over two minutes remaining. Rollins finished with 16 points, while Kevin Porter Jr. added 19, providing secondary scoring behind Milwaukee’s star. The Bucks briefly appeared to have turned the tide when they jumped ahead 113–110 with 33 seconds to play. Yet the margin proved too slim against a Washington team that had maintained composure throughout the night. Milwaukee’s depth issues loomed large. Outside of Bobby Portis’ 13 points, the bench struggled to make an impact, leaving Antetokounmpo to shoulder much of the late-game burden alone.