James Harden led the Los Angeles Clippers to a dominant 121-96 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, scoring a season-high 43 points in just 32 minutes. Harden’s performance was spectacular, as he hit seven 3-pointers, including 23 points in the first quarter. His first-half performance eclipsed his previous season-high of 29 points, and he posted his highest point total since scoring 44 against Detroit in March 2021. Harden exited the game after the third quarter, having played a key role in the Clippers’ victory.
Ivica Zubac also had a strong game, contributing 18 points and 16 rebounds. The Clippers secured their second-largest margin of victory this season, showing their ability to dominate even without the full roster available. This win marked the Clippers’ sixth victory in their last seven games, further establishing their recent strong form. The team has managed to perform well despite the absence of six-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard, who has missed the entire season due to a knee injury.
For the Wizards, the loss marked their 13th consecutive defeat, continuing their downward spiral. The team struggled to find offense, with Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas each scoring 17 points. Washington also lost its leading scorer, Kyle Kuzma, early in the game due to a left rib injury. Kuzma played just eight minutes before being sidelined, leaving the Wizards without a key contributor for the remainder of the game.
The Clippers were in control throughout, but the game was effectively decided when Harden hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 81-59. This stretch solidified the Clippers’ dominance, and Washington had no answers in the final period. Harden’s 23 points in the first quarter also marked a significant individual achievement, as it was the ninth time in his career he scored at least 23 points in a single period, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since July 2020.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will visit Minnesota on Friday, while the Wizards will travel to Milwaukee for their next game on Saturday. The Clippers continue to hold a solid 12-8 record despite the challenges posed by injuries, while the Wizards face an uphill battle to avoid matching their franchise-worst losing streak of 16 games from last season.
