McCollum's jumper in final seconds leads Wizards to a 114-113 win over the Bucks

MILWAUKEE (AP) — C.J. McCollum made a go-ahead, pull-up jumper with a second remaining to give the Washington Wizards a 114-113 victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

McCollum's winner capped an 18-point performance. Alex Starr and Bub Carrington each scored 20 points.

Antetokounmpo scored 33 points to lead the Bucks (14-20), who shot 41.1% from the floor and made 16 of 39 from 3-point distance.

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 19 points and Ryan Rollins finished with 16 for Milwaukee, which had won two in a row and was looking for its first three-game win streak of the season.

Kyle Kuzma’s layup in the waning seconds of the third sent the Bucks into the final quarter with an 88-86 lead. Milwaukee turned the ball over four times in the first two minutes of the fourth to fuel a 13-3 Washington run that included three straight 3-pointers from Carrington and put the Wizards ahead 99-91 with 9:56 remaining.

Washington stretched its lead to 10 points before Milwaukee scored seven straight points, including back-to-back buckets from Antetokounmpo to make it a 107-104 game with 6:27 left.

Antetokounmpo came off the floor with 5:14 to play after coming down hard trying to drive through the lane for a layup. Milwaukee came up empty on its next five possessions before he returned with 2:39 remaining and, after having a basket wiped off by a traveling call, fed Rollins for an open 3 that tied the game at 110.

Myles Turner split a pair of free throws to put Milwaukee ahead with 1:15 remaining and Antetokounmpo added a pair to make it a three-point game before the Wizards' final surge.

Wizards: Host Brooklyn on Friday.

Bucks: Host Charlotte on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis reacts during an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. drives to the basket between Washington Wizards' AJ Johnson and Marvin Bagley III during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

Milwaukee Bucks' Gary Harris drives to the basket between Washington Wizards' Bub Carrington and Justin Champagnie during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen)

TORONTO (AP) — Peyton Watson scored 24 points, Jamal Murray had 21 and the Denver Nuggets won their first game without injured center Nikola Jokic, beating the Toronto Raptors 106-103 on Wednesday night.

Denver came in 13-23 over the last five seasons when Jokic wasn’t in the lineup but held on down the stretch to end a two-game slide.

The Raptors thought they had sent the game to overtime when Brandon Ingram banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but the basket was overturned after a video review showed the ball was still on his fingers when time expired. Toronto’s late chance came after Denver’s Bruce Brown missed a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining.

Jokic, the Nuggets’ superstar center and three-time MVP, left late in the first half of Monday’s loss at Miami because of a hyperextended left knee. He’ll be reevaluated in four weeks.

The Nuggets were already without starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson.

Denver’s injury woes worsened when backup center Jonas Valanciunas limped off because of a strained right calf with 4:03 left in the third quarter. Valanciunas finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes against his former team.

DaRon Holmes scored 11 points and Jalen Pickett had 10 as Denver won its fifth straight meeting with Toronto.

Ingram finished with 30 points for Toronto, missing two of seven attempts from distance. Immanuel Quickley scored 22 points and Scottie Barnes had 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth career triple-double and second in three games.

RJ Barrett had 17 points for Toronto but also missed a late 3-point attempt that would have tied the score.

Nuggets: At Cleveland on Friday night.

Raptors: Host Atlanta on Saturday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Denver Nuggets forward Daron Holmes II (14) drives up court between Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes, left, and Raptors guard Gradey Dick (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) shoots over Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) tries to get around Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) during first half NBA action in Toronto on Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas (17) jumps towards the basket as Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) defends during first half NBA action in Toronto on Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) moves around Toronto Raptors forward/guard RJ Barrett, right, during first half NBA action in Toronto on Wednesday Dec. 31, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)