WASHINGTON (AP) — CJ McCollum posted season highs with 46 points and 10 made 3-pointers, and the Washington Wizards never trailed en route to a 132-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.
McCollum missed only three times from beyond the arc and finished one 3 shy of his career high and a franchise record. Washington opened with a 45-point first quarter and 77-point first half, both season bests.
Alex Sarr added 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards (2-15), who snapped a 14-game losing streak — two shy of a franchise record. They earned their first home win since a 116-111 victory over Sacramento on April 2. Washington's Corey Kispert had 19 points before leaving midway through the third quarter with a thumb injury.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 20 for Atlanta, which had a two-game win streak snapped in its worst loss since a 138-118 defeat to Toronto in an Oct. 22 season opener.
Both teams are now 1-2 in NBA Cup play.
The Wizards made their first seven 3s to build an early lead as large as 29 in the first quarter before Kispert missed his fourth attempt from beyond the arc with 1:27 left. Their advantage eventually grew to 33 before the Hawks closed in late with both teams' starters removed.
Hawks: Host Cleveland on Friday.
Wizards: Visit Indiana on Friday.
AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) blocks the shot of Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) during the first half of a Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) is guarded by Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore during the first half of a Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Wizards guard CJ McCollum (3) launches a three point shot in front of Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of a Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.
Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.
Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.
Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.
Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.
Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."
Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.
Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."
Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”
Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.
The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.
Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)
Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)
Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)
