The Milwaukee Bucks’ hopes for a fresh start to 2026 took a hard hit on New Year’s Eve as they suffered a narrow 114-113 defeat to the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum. Despite the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo to home court and a determined late-game push, the Bucks fell victim to a clutch, last-second jumper from C.J. McCollum, marking Washington’s second win over Milwaukee this season and extending a frustrating trend for the Bucks.
For Bucks fans, this loss was a gut punch—especially after the team had notched back-to-back road wins against Chicago and Charlotte just days earlier. The Bucks were hoping to string together their first three-game winning streak of the 2025 season, but the Wizards, one of the Eastern Conference’s bottom dwellers, had other plans. With the defeat, Milwaukee dropped to 14-20 on the season, while the Wizards improved to 8-25, notching their fourth win in their last nine games and their second victory over the Bucks in three matchups.
The game itself was a roller coaster from the opening tip. For the first time in nearly a month, Giannis was back at Fiserv Forum, and he wasted no time making his presence known. He poured in 10 of Milwaukee’s first 15 points, helping the Bucks to an early eight-point cushion. But the Wizards, led by the dynamic duo of Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr, who each finished with 20 points, refused to let the Bucks run away with it. By the end of the first quarter, Milwaukee’s lead had shrunk to just two, 32-30.
The second quarter saw the Wizards catch fire from beyond the arc, draining all six of their three-point attempts in the frame while the Bucks managed just three of eight. Former Bucks first-round pick AJ Johnson and Tre Johnson contributed to the barrage, and a late three from McCollum sent Washington into halftime with a 65-62 lead. The Bucks’ defense struggled to rotate quickly enough, and their seven first-half turnovers led to easy points for the visitors.
Emotions ran high on both sides. Bobby Portis, known for his intensity, let his frustration boil over and earned a technical foul after punching the basket padding. That moment seemed to shift momentum, as the Wizards rattled off a 10-0 run to seize their first lead of the night. Yet, the Bucks showed resilience, clawing back with a 10-2 run of their own to tie things up just before the half, only to see McCollum’s triple send them into the locker room trailing.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Myles Turner, who finished with 13 points, knocked down his third three-pointer early, but Washington countered with a 10-1 run, forcing Bucks coach Doc Rivers to call a timeout. Milwaukee responded by tightening up defensively, switching to a 2-3 zone that stymied the Wizards’ shooters for a stretch. The Bucks managed to regain a one-point lead midway through the quarter, but neither team could gain much separation. Kyle Kuzma’s layup in the waning seconds gave Milwaukee an 88-86 edge heading into the final frame.
Then came the fireworks. Bub Carrington erupted with three straight three-pointers early in the fourth, fueling a 13-3 Wizards run that put Washington ahead 99-91 with just under 10 minutes to play. Milwaukee looked rattled, committing four turnovers in the opening two minutes of the quarter. Still, the Bucks fought back, with AJ Green’s third three-pointer sparking a 7-0 run. Giannis, ever the workhorse, added back-to-back buckets, and with 6:27 left, the Bucks had cut the deficit to just three.
But the drama was far from over. Giannis, who had been playing under a minutes restriction since returning from injury, briefly left the game after a hard fall but returned with 2:39 remaining. He immediately made an impact, assisting Ryan Rollins on a game-tying three to knot the score at 110. A Turner free throw and two clutch free throws from Giannis gave Milwaukee a 113-110 lead with just over half a minute remaining. The home crowd could almost taste victory.
That’s when C.J. McCollum took over. First, he sliced to the rim for a layup to cut the lead to one. Then, after the Bucks failed to convert on their next possession—Kevin Porter Jr. missed a contested layup, and Giannis’s putback was swatted away by Alex Sarr—McCollum calmly dribbled up the floor, pulled up for a fading 17-foot jumper from the baseline, and buried it with just one second on the clock. "He’s just so crafty in those moments," said Bucks forward AJ Green. "You know he’s going to get a look, but it’s tough to stop when he’s feeling it."
Out of a timeout, the Bucks drew up a play for Giannis, who managed to shake free for a baseline jumper. But his 19-footer clanged off the back iron as time expired, sealing Milwaukee’s fate. Giannis finished with 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting, 15 rebounds, and 9-of-14 from the line in just under 30 minutes—his most extensive action since early December. "I think it’s better than him being hurt or not playing, so we’ll take whatever he can give us," Green remarked with a smile. "He’s been tremendous since he’s been back."
Milwaukee’s bench was a sore spot, outscored 52-23 by Washington’s reserves. Bobby Portis chipped in 13 points, but the Bucks struggled to find secondary scoring. Kevin Porter Jr. added 19 points, Ryan Rollins had 16, and Khris Middleton, though scoreless, dished out six assists. The Bucks shot 41% from beyond the arc (16-of-39) but couldn’t overcome the Wizards’ timely shooting and their own costly turnovers.
For the Wizards, the win was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season. McCollum finished with 18 points and the game’s defining moments, while Alex Sarr’s defense and Carrington’s shooting proved pivotal. The Wizards’ ability to execute in crunch time and capitalize on Milwaukee’s late-game miscues made all the difference.
Looking ahead, the Wizards will host Brooklyn on January 2, while the Bucks will try to regroup as they welcome Charlotte to Fiserv Forum the same day. As the Bucks search for consistency and hope to finally string together a winning streak, questions about their depth and late-game execution linger. One thing’s for sure—Milwaukee can’t afford to let more opportunities slip away if they want to turn their season around.
