Coast-to-Coast: Lakers through to KO round; McCollum carries Wizards to first-ever NBA Cup win

The LA Lakers are the latest team to secure a spot in the NBA Cup knockout rounds after taking down the Clippers in the latest “Battle of L.A.”

Elsewhese, the Washington Wizards notched their first-ever win in the in-season tournament, snapping a 14-game losing streak in the process.

LAKERS PUNCH NBA CUP KO ROUND TICKET; WIZARDS END SLUMP

• LA Lakers (13-4) def. LA Clippers (5-13), 135-118: Behind another Luka Doncic masterpiece, the surging Lakers are through to the NBA Cup KO rounds after pulling away late to topple the Clippers. 

Doncic went off with 43 points — his second 40-piece in the last four games — on top of 13 assists, nine rebounds and seven threes in LA’s fifth successive win overall. 

[ALSO READ: Luka Doncic drops 43 points against Clippers, leads Lakers to NBA Cup KO round]

• Washington Wizards (2-15) def. Atlanta Hawks (11-8), 132-113: CJ McCollum erupted for a season-high 46 points and 10 threes, lifting the Wizard past the Hawks to snap a 14-game losing skid in East Group A play. 

It marked McCollum’s 16th career 40-point game as Washington claimed the franchise’s first-ever NBA Cup win after losing its first 10 games in the tournament. 

• Orlando Magic (11-8) def. Philadelphia 76ers (9-8), 144-103: Anthony Black turned in a career night, pouring in 31 points as the Magic crushed the Sixers. 

Black’s 27-point outburst in the first half ignited Orlando’s dominance, helping the team remain perfect in East Group B at 3–0.

[ALSO READ: Anthony Black’s career game help Magic destroy Sixers to stay unbeaten in NBA Cup play]

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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.

Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.