INGLEWOOD, Calif. — By the time Kawhi Leonard drilled his seventh three of the night — tying a career high — the outcome inside Intuit Dome felt inevitable. The Clippers had bent, briefly wobbled, but never broke.
Behind Leonard’s smooth 33-point night and a steady 22 from James Harden, the Clippers handled a shorthanded Washington Wizards squad, 119–105, on Wednesday night in front of 15,452 fans, extending what has quietly become one of the league’s hottest stretches.
The win marked the Clippers’ fourth straight and their 11th victory in the last 13 games, pushing them to their 17th win of the season. It’s a far cry from the uneven start that defined the early months — and further proof that this group has found its rhythm since mid-December.
The Clippers didn’t have Ivica Zubac (ankle) or John Collins (groin), two key rotation pieces ruled out before tipoff. It didn’t matter.
They ran, they spaced the floor, and they punished mistakes. The Clippers piled up 24 fastbreak points, forced seven first-half turnovers, and shot a flawless 15-for-15 from the free throw line in the opening half. By the break, they had built a 19-point cushion and looked in complete control.
Harden orchestrated things early, pouring in 16 points by halftime and continuing his role as the stabilizer whenever the Wizards threatened momentum. Leonard, meanwhile, was surgical. He scored 14 points in his first 15 minutes, never forcing the issue, letting the game come to him — the kind of performance Clippers fans have grown accustomed to during this recent run.
Washington, playing without newly acquired star Trae Young — still recovering from MCL and quad injuries and not expected back until after the All-Star break — simply didn’t have enough firepower or discipline to keep pace.
Things unraveled late in the second quarter when Wizards center Alex Sarr was ejected after picking up his second technical foul for slamming the ball in frustration. The former No. 2 pick from the 2024 draft, finished with just four points, one rebound, and two blocks in 13 minutes before his night abruptly ended.
At that point, the Wizards were already trailing 67–51, and the hole only deepened from there.
The only tense stretch came in the third quarter.
What began as a comfortable Clippers lead turned scrappy and disjointed. The Wizards clawed all the way back, trimming a 19-point deficit down to just one late in the third quarter. The energy shifted. The crowd grew restless.
Enter Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
The young big delivered a jolt off the bench, scoring eight points in six third-quarter minutes on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting. His energy stabilized the floor, and the Clippers regrouped just enough to keep control. And let’s not forget his impressive dunking.
From there, free throws did the rest.
The Clippers finished a pristine 27-for-27 at the line — perfection that proved decisive in a game that briefly threatened to slip away. Leonard closed strong, Harden steadied possessions, and the Clippers reasserted itself down the stretch.
Leonard’s 33 points came with seven threes, tying his career high from deep. Harden added 22 points and guided the offense. Kobe Sanders chipped in 11 points in 26 minutes as a starter, while Brook Lopez also finished with 11 in 21 minutes.
Niederhauser was the standout off the bench, leading all reserves with 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists — all while shooting a spotless 7-for-7 from the field in 23 minutes.
Washington was led by Kyshawn George, who scored 23 points with five rebounds and four assists. Kris Middleton added 17, and Marvin Bagley III contributed 15 off the bench. The Wizards outrebounded the Clippers 41–40 and won the paint battle 50–46, but those edges never translated into control.
Since that mid-December win over the Lakers just before Christmas, the Clippers have looked like a team rediscovering its identity — defending with purpose, running opportunistically, and leaning on veteran stars at the right moments.
The Clippers head east for a three-game trip, starting Friday in Toronto, followed by a return visit to Washington on Monday. From there, it’s a back-to-back in Chicago against the Bulls before they come home next Thursday for another high-profile matchup with the Lakers.
If Wednesday night was any indication, this Clippers team is no longer searching for answers — they’re stacking wins and quietly reminding the league they’re very much in the mix.