Around the League: Wednesday's top NBA highlights and performers

Benyam Kidane

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Around the League: Wednesday's top NBA highlights and performers image

Wednesday's schedule featured four games, with a host of young talent on display.

Lottery picks Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Miles Bridges headlined the action, while CJ McCollum owned the late game, with 40 points in the Blazers' win over the Milwaukee Bucks. 

If you missed any of the NBA action, don't sweat it because we've got you covered with all of the can't-miss highlights, top performers and biggest storylines!

Top Storylines

McCollum gives Milwaukee buckets

CJ McCollum had the hot hand in Portland as the Blazers gave the Milwaukee Bucks their second loss of the season, winning 118-103.

McCollum, who was in a mini-slump heading into today, went OFF for 40 points on 17-of-26 shooting, including five three-pointers, five rebounds, six assists and four steals. He also produced the play of the day, with this slick move on Bucks rookie Donte DiVincenzo.

Even with Damian Lillard held to just 13 points on 5-15 shooting, the Blazers backcourt outscored the Bucks' starting guard combo of Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon 53-9. 

CJ scored 19 of his 40 in the third quarter to give the Blazers a 91-77 lead, before the Bucks stormed back into the contest on an 11-3 run, eventually getting to margin down to five points on a Tony Snell three-pointer with 7:13 remaining.

Portland responded, closing the game on a 20-10 run, thanks to some triples of their own from McCollum, Al Farouq Aminu and Evan Turner.

Turner recorded 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in his best game of the season as the Blazers move to 8-3.

Doncic fires as Mavs hold off Wizards

Rookie Luka Doncic poured in 23 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 119-100 win over the Washington Wizards, snapping their six-game losing streak.

Wesley Matthews added 22 points, including 5-of-8 from the three-point line, while Harrison Barnes added 19 points and 13 rebounds.


The Wizards' struggling defence again put them on the back foot as the Mavs unloaded 35 points in both the first and second quarters to take a commanding 70-49 lead into the half. They connected on 13 of their 23 three-point attempts in the first half and shot 50% from the field.

DC bounced back after half-time, winning the third quarter 29-17, before cutting the lead to just six points in the fourth quarter, but some turnovers and poor defence let the Mavs run away with it.

Harrison Barnes and DeAndre Jordan came up with the big plays down the stretch to extend the lead and give the Mavs their third win of the season.

John Wall led the way for the Wizards with 24 points and 10 assists as his squad falls to 2-8 on the season, 

Hornets rally late to edge Hawks

The Charlotte Hornets overcame a lackluster start to close out the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 on their home floor. 

Charlotte committed a season-high 21 turnovers, keeping the Hawks in the game through three quarters, before coming to life in the fourth.

They led 81-77 heading into the fourth quarter and when the Hawks cut the lead to just one, the Hornets erupted on a 13-2 run in a three-and-a-half minute stretch to blow the game open.

Nic Batum scored five points in the run, while Marvin Williams chipped in, scoring eight of his season-high 20 points in the fourth quarter. 

Malik Monk had the crowd going with this alley-oop connection from Tony Parker.


Kemba Walker led the way with 29 points, seven assists and three steals, scoring 20+ points in nine of Charlotte's 11 games this season.

Hawks rookie Trae Young held his own against Walker, recording 18 points and 10 assists, despite a rough shooting night from three, going 0-of-7.

While all eyes were on the Hawks' rookie entering the game, Charlotte's #12 pick in this year's draft made his presence felt early, with this ferocious dunk late in the first quarter.

Bridges recorded nine points, three rebounds and an assist in his 19 minutes on court as the Hornets move above .500 to 6-5 this season, winning four of their past six games.

Best performers

CJ McCollum: 40 points (17-of-26 FG, 5 3PT) five rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Giannis Antetokoumpo: 23 points (11-of-18 FG), nine rebounds and six assists.

Kemba Walker: 29 points (12-of-22 FG), seven assists and three steals.

Caris LeVert: 26 points (10-of-16 FG) and five rebounds.

John Wall: 24 points (8-of-20 FG), 10 assists and four rebounds 

Luka Doncic: 23 points (9-of-16 FG), six rebounds and three assists.

Can't-miss highlights 

REMINDER: Vince Carter will still dunk on you at 41


Dennis Smith Jr. is really good at jumping


Tony Parker stays bamboozling defenders


Giannis just doing Giannis stuff


Box Scores

Hawks at Hornets | Mavericks at Wizards

Nets at Suns | Bucks at Blazers

Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.