Late success from three-point range helps Wizards escape Hawks

This year’s rendition of the annual matchup between the top two picks in the NBA Draft produced a contest that would need nearly all 40 minutes of gametime to decide.

Washington eked past Atlanta, 94-88, Friday night from the Thomas & Mack Center on the opening day of this year’s Las Vegas summer league.

“I think the best thing about tonight was the first quarter,” head coach Cody Toppert said. “We came out [and] they outscored us, they were physical, they out-hustled us, they got 50-50 balls. Our guys came in, regrouped and battled adversity.”

A pair of back-to-back made three-pointers late in regulation helped spark the final run for the Wizards that allowed them to put away the Hawks. As a team, Washington hit five threes in the fourth quarter with four of them coming in the final half of the frame.

Everybody who logged minutes for the Wizards netted at least one made three on the night.

“We hit some big shots,” Toppert said. “When you look at the box score, 25 assists. That means the ball moved and we did a really good job sharing the sugar and we’ve got to keep doing that.”

Forward Justin Champagnie and guard Bub Carrington each added 18 points and 16 points respectively with a total of five of the team’s 14 made threes between them.

Washington went on a 16-4 run in the second quarter to launch itself back into contention after heading into the frame down nine. That 16-4 run would briefly net the team a lead before halftime.

After the first quarter, the Wizards went +15 to secure the win.

Center Alex Sarr played in his first game in Las Vegas since being drafted No. 2 overall in last month’s draft. He shook off a shaky offensive start to the contest and would drain two big threes in the second half as part of the mounted comeback.

“When you see shots falling, you want to take more,” he said. “I was trying the new things out and getting to know how to play with my new teammates.”

Despite starting the game without a make on his first three field goals, Sarr’s presence was felt on defense with four blocks in the game and three in a 25-second span in the second quarter.

“It’s an up-and-down game,” he said. “That’s the way we’ve been practicing for more than a week so I feel like I’m adjusting pretty nicely.”

Top pick in last month’s draft Zaccharie Risacher led Atlanta with 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting with five rebounds and a block.

“Honestly, that was a great experience,” he said. “First steps on an NBA court and I felt good. Just mad that we lost but it's part of the game. But that was a great experience.”