Champagnie scores season-high 20 points to lead the Wizards to a 119-99 win over the Nets

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justin Champagnie scored a season-high 20 points and the Washington Wizards continued their recent improvement with a 119-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Alex Sarr added 19 points and CJ McCollum scored 17 for the Wizards, who still have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference (9-23) but have won four out of five for the first time since Feb. 8-16, 2023.

Washington won the rebounding battle 51-33 while holding Brooklyn to a season-low six 3-pointers in 29 attempts (20.7%).

Day’Ron Sharpe, Terance Mann, Ziaire Williams and Drake Powell all had 14 points for Brooklyn (10-22), which has lost three straight following a three-game winning streak.

Washington had a 19-2 advantage in points off turnovers before halftime, and used an 18-4 run that stretched across the first and second quarters to build its lead to 18.

Champagnie’s 3-pointer as the first-quarter buzzer sounded made it 37-24. Will Riley added to the lead with a layup to open the second quarter, then fed AJ Johnson for a 3 a couple possessions later that stretched it to 44-26.

Brooklyn got within nine later in the second and third quarters before Washington stretched its lead to 23 by the end of the third and 28 early in the fourth.

Nets: Start a three-game homestand Sunday against Denver.

Wizards: Play their second of three at home Sunday against Minnesota.

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

Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie (9) looks to shoot a basket against Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III, left, is found by Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton (22) is fouled by Brooklyn Nets forward Danny Wolf, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) dunks against Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

MIAMI (AP) — There was snow. There was fire. And after years of planning, there was hockey on a baseball field in Miami.

The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers dropped the puck Friday night in the 44th outdoor game in NHL history. It was the first for Florida, which has won the last two Stanley Cup titles.

And this Winter Classic wasn't the warmest outdoor game ever: It was 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius) outside when the windows behind what usually is left field began opening at 8:04 p.m., under a calm and clear sky.

That made it the second-warmest outdoor game in league history, 2 degrees cooler than the 65-degree air on Feb. 27, 2016, when Detroit beat Colorado at Denver's Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. It was 1 degree warmer than the game on Jan. 25, 2014, when Anaheim beat Los Angeles 3-0 at Dodger Stadium.

The game-time temperature was initially announced inside the stadium as 61 degrees, before the NHL later said it was 63.

The Rangers — with a snow effect around their walkway — were called to the ice at 8:13 p.m. The Panthers — as fire shot skyward along their path — came out about a minute later. And that's about when snowflakes began falling from the top of the stadium, as the roof continued opening.

There was another celebration before faceoff, when Rangers and Panthers players who will be part of the U.S. Olympic hockey team at the Milan Cortina Games next month were introduced. Panthers defenseman Seth Jones made the team earlier Friday, as did injured Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk.

Tkachuk placed an American flag over Jones' shoulders and the crowd roared.

It was a spectacle, as expected. The Rangers showed up in all-white outfits, as if it was a beach day. The Panthers came with a “Miami Vice” theme, wearing white suits, pastel shirts and even showing up in Ferraris instead of a bus.

“If you would have asked me 25 years ago ... this might be the last place that I thought it would take place,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “So, I just think it speaks volumes for technology and its advancements and the ability to put a sheet of ice down in this type of environment.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) blocks a shot attempt by the New York Rangers during the first period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) watches the puck during the first period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Fireworks explode over loanDepot Park before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New York Rangers and Florida Panthers players warm up before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Players warm up before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)