Clippers roll, send Wizards to 14th straight loss
Mar 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) is defended by Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. credits: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports James Harden scored 21 of his 28 points in the second quarter and Paul George celebrated his return with 22 points as the Los Angeles Clippers poured on the offense in a 140-115 victory Friday over the visiting Washington Wizards.
Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and Terance Mann had 12 as the Clippers ended their first two-game skid since just before Christmas. George was 8-of-15 from the floor in 30 minutes after missing the past two games with a knee injury.
The victory came at a cost for Los Angeles, which lost Russell Westbrook to a fractured left hand in the second quarter.
The Clippers, who were without Ivica Zubac (illness) for a second consecutive game, won for just the fourth time in nine games but remained in fourth in the Western Conference.
Kyle Kuzma scored 32 points, Deni Avdija added 14 and Marvin Bagley III had 10 points with 10 rebounds as Washington lost its 14th straight after dropping back-to-back contests at Los Angeles. The Wizards fell in overtime to the Lakers on Thursday.
Jordan Poole scored 16 points off the bench for Washington after scoring a season-high 34 points Thursday. The Wizards are 2-20 since Jan. 15, have lost six consecutive overall to the Clippers and 16 consecutive to them in Los Angeles going back to the 2007-08 season.
In a tight game early in the second quarter, Harden made four consecutive 3-pointers at one point for the Clippers and five total in the period.
Los Angeles grabbed a 79-64 halftime lead while scoring the fourth-most points in a half in franchise history.
The Clippers pushed the lead past 20 points in the third quarter and went up 100-75 with 3:35 left in the period. As frustration set in for the Wizards, Richaun Holmes was hit with a pair of technical fouls in the third and was ejected.
Reserve guard Bones Hyland earned some extra playing time after Westbrook was injured. Hyland, who appeared in a game for just the fourth time since Dec. 26, scored two points and added seven assists in 16 minutes.
—Field Level Media