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Jalen Johnson has 2nd triple-double in 2 nights to lead the Hawks past the Wizards, 131-116

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jalen Johnson had his second straight triple-double and fourth of the season, finishing with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in the Atlanta Hawks’ 131-116 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

On Friday night, Johnson had 21 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists in a 134-133 home loss to Denver.

Onyeka Okongwu added 21 points for the Hawks. They snapped a three-game losing streak and avenged a 132-113 loss in Washington on Nov. 25.

Vít Krejci scored 14 points and made three of his four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Atlanta pull away after giving back a lead that had been 20 in the second quarter and 18 in the third.

CJ McCollum scored 28 points for last-place Washington, which lost its third in a row and second straight at home following two consecutive home wins. He hit seven 3s as the Wizards stayed in the game on 17-of-28 shooting beyond the arc.

Johnson surpassed the triple-double threshold with a defensive rebound late in the third quarter and helped Atlanta outrebound Washington 45-26 and outscore the Wizards 70-42 in the paint.

Even so, the Wizards fought back into a brief tie after their 23-8 run tied it at 97 early in the fourth.

The Hawks responded with an 8-0 spurt of their own, keyed by Krejci’s second and third 3s, and Washington never again closed within a possession.

Up next:

Hawks: Visit Detroit on Friday night.

Wizards: Host Cavaliers on Friday

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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.

Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and Wilson wait to see who goes first in the NBA draft

CHICAGO (AP) — Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa had an epic showdown in high school, crossed paths in college and could be the top two picks in this year's NBA draft after starring at Kansas and BYU. That's if Duke's Cameron Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson don't have something to say about it. All four are considered potential stars and a clear cut above the rest in a loaded draft class. What remains to be seen is the order they will be taken. The Washington Wizards hold the No. 1 pick for the first time since they drafted John Wall in 2010. Utah, Memphis and Chicago round out the top four. “It would mean a lot,” Dybantsa said Wednesday at the NBA draft combine of being picked first. “It would just mean that all my hard work is paying off. All the countless hours and all the sacrifices I made have paid off.”
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