WASHINGTON (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 28 points, including a 3-pointer with 14.4 seconds remaining that helped the Washington Wizards outlast the Milwaukee Bucks 129-126 on Monday night.
The Wizards (3-16) have won two of three following a 14-game losing streak, and Milwaukee only managed a split in two games against Washington and Brooklyn — two of the NBA's worst teams.
It was tied at 115 after former Bucks standout Khris Middleton made a 3-pointer for Washington. Then Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly lost control of the ball while being fouled on a drive, but managed to flip it up and in for a three-point play with 3:36 to play. Then Antetokounmpo slammed down an alley-oop on Milwaukee’s next possession.
The Wizards battled back, however, taking a two-point lead on Middleton's 3-pointer with 52.2 seconds remaining. Antetokounmpo — who was called for a violation in the first half for not shooting a free throw quickly enough — was fouled with 39.3 seconds left and made one of two. Then McCollum stepped back and sank a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock to make it 127-123.
Bilal Coulibaly stole the ball and dunked with 5.4 seconds left, pushing the lead to six and drawing Antetokounmpo's sixth foul.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 30 points for Milwaukee in his second game back from knee surgery. This was only the third game all season for Porter, who dealt with a sprained ankle and then a meniscus tear in his right knee. He scored 13 points against Brooklyn on Saturday.
Milwaukee led 81-65 in the third before Washington rallied to tie it before the quarter was over.
Antetokounmpo scored 26 points but went just 6 of 11 from the line.
Bucks: Host Detroit on Wednesday night.
Wizards: At Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton, right, drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo pauses before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore (1) goes up to dunk over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
CHICAGO (AP) — A potential replay challenge by the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday was denied because first-year manager Kurt Suzuki waited too long to make the appeal.
The play occurred with the Chicago Cubs batting in the third inning of the Angels' 6-2 loss in the series finale at a chilly Wrigley Field. Nico Hoerner doubled into the gap in left-center, and Miguel Amaya used a headfirst slide to score the first run of the game.
Shortstop Zach Neto's throw beat Amaya to the plate. It was unclear if Amaya's left hand touched home, and if it got in there ahead of catcher Travis d'Arnaud's tag. Umpire David Rackley ruled Amaya was safe.
Suzuki held up his hand in the direction of the field before deciding to challenge. But the umpires did not initiate a replay review because they said Suzuki took too long to make his decision.
According to Major League Baseball's replay regulations, once a manager notifies an umpire that a club is considering a challenge, the umpire “will hold play until the earlier of the expiration of the 15-Second Determination Timer ... or an indication from the Manager that the Club is not going to challenge the play.”
“When a close play happens like that, the manager is required to immediately hold, to signal to start the clock, which is 15 seconds,” crew chief Chris Guccione told a pool reporter. “So once I see a manager hold by raising his hand, I'll radio up to the press box, to the tech up there, who then starts the clock. So then from that point they've got 15 seconds to either wave it off, challenge, whatever they need to do.”
The 15 seconds is displayed on the pitch clock, and umpires wear a communication device that buzzes when the clock strikes zero.
“There's zeros and the buzz, and then Kurt came up just a little late,” Guccione said.
Suzuki said bench coach John Gibbons, who is the conduit between the manager and Angels staffers looking at the replay, said the timing of the challenge decision was close.
“He said it was a judgment thing,” Suzuki said. “He said it was like zero-bam and then I challenged, so it was like right after. If we’re late, we’re late. Can’t really argue that. Even if it’s a half-second, a second, you can’t argue that. If you’re late, you’re late.”
The Cubs went on to score four more runs in the third, including two with two outs in the inning.
The Angels challenged a successful steal by Hoerner in the sixth, but the call was upheld.
The time limit for deciding whether to request a replay challenge was lowered from 20 to 15 seconds when the pitch clock was instituted as part of a package of rules changes ahead of the 2023 season.
The 42-year-old Suzuki took over as the team's manager in October. He spent the previous three seasons as a special assistant to Angels general manager Perry Minasian.
Suzuki was a major league catcher for five teams over 16 seasons, winning a World Series with Washington in 2019. He had no major league coaching experience when he was hired as manager.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, left, attempts to challenge a play with an umpire during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, left, attempts to challenge a play with an umpire during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
