Wizards pick up rare win, extend Hornets' skid to 12

Malcolm Brogdon scored 25 points in his return as the Washington Wizards extended the visiting Charlotte Hornets' losing streak to 12 with a 123-114 win Thursday night.

Brogdon, who came off the bench and played 27 minutes, had missed the last four games with a strained hamstring. Teammate Bilal Coulibaly had 14 points, including an incredible fourth-quarter dunk.

It was just the Wizards' second win in their last 21 games, and it featured a big performance from their young stars, including No. 1 overall pick Alex Sarr, who drained a pair of clutch threes in the final 3 1/2 minutes and finished with 19 points.

Jordan Poole led Washington with 27. LaMelo Ball finished with 34 points to lead the Hornets, but shot only 11-for-32 from the floor.

Neither team was able to carve much of an advantage in the first half, which ended with the Wizards leading 60-58.

The Hornets made a big move in the final minutes of the third quarter with a pair of dunks by Nick Richards and a three by Tidjane Salaun to take their biggest lead at 86-79.

The Wizards responded by scoring the final eight points of the quarter, all by Corey Kispert (13 points), to regain the lead.

Washington never trailed in the fourth, getting back-to-back threes by Poole to go up 101-94 with 5:59 left. With the hosts up by seven a minute later, Poole fed a high pass to Coulibaly, who with his 7-foot-3 wingspan was able to control and slam down with his right hand in an impressive athletic display.

Charlotte drew within seven in the final minute, but Poole sealed it with a pair of free throws.

Poole sank a 3-pointer for the Wizards' first basket and tied a franchise record with Gilbert Arenas with his 53rd straight game with a made three.

The crowd included NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who had attended a press conference earlier in the day announcing a major renovation plan for Capital One Arena to be completed over the next three summers.

--Field Level Media