After snapping a 14-game and 32-day losing streak for its first home win of the 2025-26 season, head coach Brian Keefe noted the Washington Wizards are “getting better” following a 132-113 win vs. Atlanta.

“I thought we were trending up on our trip, the way we were passing, moving, sharing the ball. I think that was an example of stuff that we stuck with and have gotten better at,” Keefe said after the win. “Obviously we made shots tonight but the ball was flying around and we were pushing the pace, playing the style that we want to play, the identity we want to play to which is start with defense, get out in transition and then really share it. And I thought we did that tonight terrific.”

Washington held Atlanta to 45% shooting from the field, but maybe the biggest surprise was the 18 forced turnovers to the Wizards’ 12 given Atlanta proving to be one of the most efficient teams in the league entering Tuesday.

“I think it was Bilal [Coulibaly] setting the tone. I think it was everybody being engaged. I thought our physicality was good, our communication a was high and I think that’s what we’re capable of,” Keefe added.

“We’re not there yet. This is something we got to keep working and growing on and make it consistent, but that was an example of how we want to play.”

The win was highlighted on the offensive end with CJ McCollum pouring in a season-high 46 points on ten made three pointers, tying the franchise record for made threes in a game along with becoming the second player in NBA Cup history to record 10+ made threes.

“I should’ve had 50 [points] tonight but I think – that’s what I’ve done my whole life, man,” McCollum said after the win. “I prepare, I maximize my talent, I take advantage of each day. These types of nights, they happen, but for me it starts with how I start my days, how I finish my days. We had a back-to-back. I spent it with my family and then once we put our kids down, I went to the gym, got work in with my guys Diggs. Next night, same thing. Go through the day and get my work in with DV, come back at night, get my work in with Diggs, get my work in with my PT. We do some movement stuff. We do core stability. We lift. We take advantage of each day and we stack them. Sometimes you have great nights, sometimes you don’t but the work is the work. I consistently have done it since I was five years old.”

One blemish was Corey Kispert leaving the game midway through the third quarter with what Keefe said was a thumb injury, adding the team doesn’t “know much yet.”

“We’ll know more here. Just finding out about it myself after the game. He was pulled during the middle of the third quarter, don’t have anything more than that right now,” Keefe added.

Washington will hit the road for its next game against Indiana on Friday night in a matchup between a pair of 2-15 teams, but getting back in the win column is a refreshed feeling heading into Thanksgiving.

“You always want to win. You’re competitors. That’s the biggest thing. We act like that’s not something that’s a big deal. We want to win. Our guys are disappointed when they don’t but it just shows you what we’re capable of. Now, we got to continue to stack it. As coaches, we’re always kind of moving on to the next thing but I’m really please for the guys in the locker room because they put in a tremendous amount of time. But that’s how we want to play – we want to play with defense first, rebound and then you saw the transition. And then obviously, we made shots tonight, but the process was right. The shots were right. Really good stuff.”