The Clippers are finally closing up their crazy four game in five day stretch against the league-worst Wizards.

Game Information

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Wizards: Bub Carrington – Jordan Poole – Kyle Kuzma – Bilal Coulibaly – Alex Sarr

Clippers: James Harden – Norm Powell – Derrick Jones Jr. – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac

Injuries

Wizards: Malcolm Brogdon Out (Foot), Saddiq Bey Out (Knee), Marvin Bagley Out (Knee)

Clippers: Ivica Zubac Questionable (Eye), James Harden Questionable (Groin), Norm Powell Questionable (Back), Kris Dunn Questionable (Knee), PJ Tucker Out (Away from team)

The Antagonist

The Wizards are by far the worst team in the NBA. Their record is 6-36, four wins lower than the next worst team (the Jazz). The Wizards’ Net Rating is -13.7, which is an insane 5.6 worse than the 29^th ranked team, the Trailblazers, at -8.1. The Wizards are the worst team in the league on both offense and defense, an equally incredible feat. Really, if they continue on this pace, they are going to go down as one of the worst teams in NBA history, even if their record probably won’t set the all-time mark. That doesn’t mean the Wizards don’t have talent, but their young guys – Coulibaly, Carrington, and Sarr – are all incredibly young, and their vets are mostly checked out or injured. They are still an NBA team, and they have a couple guys who can score a lot, but they are an easy win for the other team almost every night.

Notes

No Excuses: The Clippers are going to be playing their fourth game in five days in this one, a scheduling challenge so great that it’s been all but eliminated in the NBA. That said, there are no excuses for them to lose this game. Six of the Clippers’ top 10 players did not suit up last night against the Celtics, meaning they’ve had two days of rest since Monday’s game. Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac (if he plays) didn’t play on Monday either, giving them an additional day off. Yes, a couple of the Clippers’ key players (Amir Coffey, Derrick Jones Jr.) will have completed the full four-in-five stretch, but enough of their top talent hasn’t that they should be relatively close to full rest for this one. The Clippers more or less punted on the Celtics game to secure this win, which means they better seal the deal.

Clippers vs Wizards Preview: Beating the Worst
Robert Flom

The Clippers will seek to get back to their winning ways tonight against the woeful Washington Wizards.

Game Information

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

When: 4:00 PM PT

How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Amir Coffey – Derrick Jones Jr. – Ivica Zubac

Wizards: Malcolm Brogdon – Kyshawn George – Kyle Kuzma – Bilal Coulibaly – Alex Sarr

Injuries

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Norm Powell Questionable (Hamstring), Mo Bamba Questionable (Knee), Kobe Brown Questionable (Back), PJ Tucker Out (Away from team), Trentyn Flowers Out (G-League), Cam Christie Out (G-League)

Wizards: Jordan Poole Doubtful (Hip), Saddiq Bey Out (Knee), Tristan Vukcevic Out (Knee)

The Big Picture

The Clippers are coming off their biggest blowout loss of the season, a drubbing at the hands of the Celtics. However, that was also the toughest scheduled game of the year, a back-to-back on the road against one of the three best teams in the league with a terrific homecourt advantage. The Clippers can acknowledge their mistakes in that game – some sloppiness on defense, bad turnovers, hesitancy on offense – while still recognizing that game was probably always going to be a loss against a superior team. Hopefully they can right the ship in this one.

The Antagonist

The Wizards are 2-14, making them the worst team in the NBA by record. And their statistics back up the record, as the Wizards possess the 29^th ranked offense and 30^th ranked defense in the league, giving them the lowest Net Rating in the NBA as well. In short, they’re abysmal at just about everything. Jordan Poole is probably their best player when healthy, and while he’s having a very nice bounce back season, that tells you all you need to know about the franchise. That’s not to say the Wizards don’t have talent – Bilal Coulibaly is having a breakout second season, #2 pick Alex Sarr flashes monstrous potential on defense, and fellow lottery rookie Bub Carrington is a promising ballhandler and scorer – but it is very young and not cohesive. On the right night they will look competitive, but they’ve gotten blown out more often than not this season.

Notes

Clippers Killer Jonas: The Wizards might be awful, but they have an all-time Clippers’ killer on their roster in Jonas Valanciunas. Jonas’ stats are down across the board as he’s coming off the bench and playing a limited role, but his advanced numbers remain good, and he can definitely still play. Jonas has taken only six threes this season, but he’s made more than that against the Clippers in single games, so we know that his three-point stats don’t mean anything against the Clips. Jonas is one of the few players on the Wizards who can take over a game for stretches, so the Clippers will need to do a good job of keeping him under wraps.

Be Aggressive: The Wizards are competitive – it’s still too early in the season for true tanking to set in – but can be blown out and resort to bad basketball if pressed. The Clippers need to take the reins on both ends. On offense, they should be able to get into the lane consistently against the Wizards’ porous defense, and should be able to finish inside. On defense, they can play tight pressure against the Wizards’ subpar ballhandlers knowing that there isn’t a ton of shooting to punish them. If the Clippers can get a big lead in the first half, they can keep their foot on the gas and make this an easy win. They aren’t more talented than most teams in the NBA, but they have more talent, more experienced talent, and better fitting pieces than the Wizards. This should be a win, even on the road.

Clippers vs Wizards Preview: Securing the Easy Win
Robert Flom

The LA Clippers got back in the win column with a 140-115 win against the visiting Washing Wizards.

Summary

With Paul George back in the lineup, the Clippers got what they been searching for, for the past month: a blowout win against a poor team where they could rest the starters in the fourth quarter.

The Wizards managed to keep the game close in the first quarter, but Paul George came out of the gates looking to make a statement. George finished with 11 points in the quarter and showed no lingering effects of the knee injury.

In the second quarter, it was an avalanche of three-point shots from James Harden that pushed the lead to double digits. After not scoring a single point in the first quarter, Harden dropped 21 in the second, nearly outscoring the Wizards by himself.

The Clippers took a 79-64 lead into the half, and after halftime there was no letdown. The Clippers continued to pour it on, increasing their lead and ensuring that the starters would get a lengthy rest in the final period.

With about five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, both teams emptied the bench.

The one blemish though for the Clippers was the injury to Russell Westbrook. Westbrook apparently fractured his hand and was ruled out for the second half. In his absence, the Clippers returned to Bones Hyland as the backup point guard.

It’s not clear yet how long Westbrook will be out, but it’s a given that he will be out for an extended period of time. It will be Hyland’s opportunity to show that he’s ready for the moment.

Clippers vs. Wizards Game Recap: Back on track
David Yapkowitz

The Clippers will hope to get back into the win column with a home game against the league-worst Wizards.

Game Information

Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: Clippervision, Bally Sports SoCal

Tickets: For great deals on Clippers tickets, check out Barry’s Tickets!

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: James Harden – Terance Mann – Amir Coffey – Kawhi Leonard – Daniel Theis

Wizards: Tyus Jones – Landry Shamet – Corey Kispert – Kyle Kuzma – Marvin Bagley III

Injury Report

Clippers: Paul George questionable (knee), Ivica Zubac questionable (illness).

Wizards: Isaiah Livers out (hip), Bilal Coulibaly out (pelvis)

The Big Picture

The LA Clippers are coming off one of the most disappointing losses of the season during which they had a 21-point fourth quarter lead and choked it away against the Los Angeles Lakers.

While it may have been a bad loss, the good thing about the nature of the NBA is that it can be washed away rather quickly due to the schedule. The Clippers have that opportunity against the Washington Wizards.

What has been troubling for the Clippers is that the Lakers game was just the latest in what’s been a tough February. The team has struggled to find consistency ever since the win against the Boston Celtics near the beginning of the Grammy road trip.

The defense, especially in transition, has been porous. High number of turnovers have only exacerbated the issue. The loss was just a smaller symptom of a larger problem.

The absence of both Paul George and Ivica Zubac does have to be taken into consideration, but the Clippers had a 21-point lead in the final quarter. That needed to be a win no matter who was sitting out.

Both players are once again listed as questionable against the Wizards. The absences have caused fluctuation in the Clippers rotations and bench units and it’s resulted in some strange lineups. Lue is famous for his tinkering and experimenting, but with the Clippers fighting for a top seed in the West, at some point you’ve just got to play your best and most productive players.

The Antagonist

The Washington Wizards come to town as the worst team in the NBA, record-wise, having surpassed the Detroit Pistons. While both teams sport near-identical records, there’s no question the Wizards are the most futile team in the league.

They’re a team in desperate need of a rebuild. They need to tear it down and start from scratch. They do have some intriguing young talent though, and a few players the Clippers need to watch out for.

Kyle Kuzma has blossomed into a much more well-rounded player than when he was with the Lakers. He belongs on a contending team. Slowing him down will be key to containing the Wizards.

The Clippers also have to limit Tyus Jones. Jones has long been one of the NBA’s most underrated point guards and now that he has a full-time starting role, he’s flourished. He also belongs on a contending team.

Deni Avdija, Bilal Coulibaly, and Corey Kispert are very good building blocks as well. But this team needs a Philadelphia 76ers ‘process’ like revamp. The Clippers shouldn’t let this game be close.

Notes

-The Wizards in town also means the return of Landry Shamet. Shamet was a key player on the underdog 2019 Clippers team that pushed the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. He was starter as a rookie during that series and hit the game-winning three in Game 2 as the Clippers rallied back from being down 31 points.

Shamet’s since developed into a capable role player. He endeared himself to Clippers fans during that run and expect a warm welcome when he’s introduced during the pregame introductions.

213Hoops may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this post.

Clippers vs. Wizards Game Preview
David Yapkowitz

The Clippers weren’t great, but played more than well enough to beat the defense-averse Wizards on the road in Washington.

Summary

The first half of this one was entertaining if you like offense and a snooze if you care much about defense or intensity. The score after the first quarter was 37-35, which would have put both teams on pace for 140+ points. Things slowed up a bit in the second quarter, but it was more due to missed shots than any real improvement on defense. Kyle Kuzma carried the Wizards with 23 points on 9-15 shooting while Corey Kispert chipped in 13. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard was the leading man with 19 points on 8-15 shooting while Harden filled in as sidekick with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Still, the Clippers led only 66-60 at the half.

Things shifted in a hurry in the 3^rd, with the Clippers suddenly interested in playing defense. The Wizards attack, facing resistance, quickly fell into turnovers and chucked shots, and while the Clippers’ offense wasn’t humming, an 18-6 run over the first 6:30 of the quarter put the Clippers up 19. The bench started trickling in, and the Clippers’ offense really kicked into gear, attacking the already-defeated looking Wizards and relentlessly getting to the rim. When the dust settled, the Clippers led 106-79 with a massive 27-point advantage.

Both teams kept their regular bench units in to start the 4^th quarter. The Clippers didn’t play great, but made enough shots to keep their lead in the high 20s. Ty finally pulled Harden at the 7:03 mark, with Norm and Russ staying in a bit longer. The Clippers’ garbage time unit continued their streak of miserable play and the Wizards got the lead all the way down to 14, but the outcome was never in doubt, and the Clippers secured the 125-109 win.

Notes

Kawhi and Harden Dominate: Kawhi Leonard and James Harden were by far the two best players in this game, and they played like it. Kawhi had 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists in 30 minutes while Harden logged 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks in 33 minutes. Ideally those minutes counts would have been a bit lower, but that’s just quibbling on what were very good nights for the Clippers’ two best players. Kawhi was awesome on defense and a machine on offense while Harden got the Clippers open looks nearly every time down. Just another day at the office.

Amir Continues to Brew: Amir Coffey’s return to the rotation happened nearly two months ago when he filled in for Paul George as a starter against the Warriors. He was great in that game and has been a rotation fixture since. That’s all to say he started this game for PG again, and was terrific, scoring 17 points in 21 minutes on 5-7 shooting (2-2 from three and 5-5 from line) while playing his usual solid defense and not making bad decisions. It seems like he will be the fill-in starter for any of Kawhi, PG, or Terance when they’re out, and for good reason. Just a great player to have connecting good lineups.

Nice Boston Minutes: It has been a long time since we saw decent Brandon Boston minute in the NBA, much less in non garbage time minutes. Now, one could argue that playing the Wizards in general isn’t much above garbage time, but let’s be generous. When the game was in the balance, Boston played well, not forcing shots, getting to the rim, and looking fine (or no worse than anyone else) on defense. He continued his strong play in actual garbage time, finishing with 12 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, steal, and block. It was a nice showing for Boston, who has mostly ridden the pine this year and been pretty bad in the few games he has appeared. Hopefully this is a turning point.

Clippers Stop the Wizards’ Magic, Win 125-109
Robert Flom

The Clippers will try to get their road trip back on track against one of the worst teams in the NBA, the Washington Wizards.

Game Information

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

When: 4:00 PM PT

How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: James Harden – Paul George – Terance Mann – Kawhi Leonard – Mason Plumlee

Wizards: Tyus Jones – Jordan Poole – Deni Avdija – Kyle Kuzma – Daniel Gafford

Injuries

Clippers: Paul George Questionable (Groin), Ivica Zubac Out (Calf), Moussa Diabate Out (Hand)

Wizards: Isaiah Livers Out (Hip)

The Big Picture

The Clippers will look to bounce back from their tough loss to the Cavs on Monday and get their road trip back on a positive note. A third game in four nights on the road against a good team was always going to be difficult, so hopefully that loss doesn’t throw things off. The other good news is that Kawhi Leonard still continues to look like one of the very best players in the entire NBA, and is just about matchup proof. The Wizards, in particular, have nobody who should be able to really bother him. Though the same goes for Paul George (if he plays) and James Harden.

The Antagonist

The Wizards are 9-36, thus putting them on track to finish with around 17 or 18 wins. That’s not “worst team in NBA history” level bad, but it is not too far from the conversation. The Wizards rank 28^th in defense (ahead of the even more woeful Hornets and Pistons) and 25^th on offense, giving them the 26^th ranked net rating, though they are just a hair ahead of the Blazers and Spurs. Despite having some supposedly competent veterans, the Wizards are a mess on both ends, with a roster led by two inefficient chuckers (Kuzma and Poole) who almost never play defense. Tyus Jones is having an excellent offensive season, Deni Avdija has taken a big step forward in his 4^th year, and Corey Kispert is a very good shooter. That about sums up the positives.

Notes

Get the Win: This does not need to be pretty. But the Clippers absolutely must win their games against the dregs of the NBA, even on the road, to keep pace with the Thunder, Nuggets, and Wolves atop the West standings. As long as they play hard and put together a competent, professional outing, they should be able to beat the hapless Wizards.

Hit the Glass: The Wizards, remarkably, rank dead last in both offensive and defensive rebounding rate. In short, they give up a lot of offensive rebounds and don’t get any of their own. Even without Ivica Zubac the Clippers should dominate the boards on both ends. Second chance points are what killed them against the Cavs, and they should hopefully not face the same issue in this one.

Clippers vs. Wizards Preview: Get the Easy Win
Robert Flom

The LA Clippers got back on track Saturday afternoon with a come from behind win over the visiting Washington Wizards.

Summary

It was looking like another bleak afternoon for the Clippers. Early start times have not exactly been kind to them and on Saturday they found themselves in a 15 point hole in the second quarter against the slumping Wizards. After a poor first quarter, the Wizards lead just ballooned and the Clippers found themselves facing another lackluster effort amid a rash of injuries.

But what happened next can be summed up by the fact that the Clippers have Kawhi Leonard and the Wizards don’t. Although Leonard is clearly still working his way back up to game speed, his movements and motion have been very visible and Saturday was perhaps his best game yet.

Leonard dropped in back to back buckets to slice into the Wizards lead and the Clippers were able to carry that momentum into the half to be within striking distance.

The Clippers managed to keep the game close in the third quarter and it was Leonard who save his best for last. After a small-ball lineup of John Wall, Luke Kennard, Brandon Boston Jr., Terance Mann and Amir Coffey managed to keep the game close, Leonard checked back in with the game tied at 85.

Leonard scored six straight points down the stretch of the fourth quarter to essentially put the game away. Aside from a poor start, the short-handed Clippers rallied to keep the game close and allow their superstar to carry them home.

Clippers vs Wizards Recap: Clips hold off Wizards, 102-93
David Yapkowitz

After a disheartening, lopsided loss to the Phoenix Suns, the LA Clippers hope to get back on track against the visiting Washington Wizards.

Game Information

Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

When: 1 PM PST

How to watch: Clippervision, KTLA

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: John Wall – Terance Mann – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris – Moses Brown

Washington Wizards: Monte Morris – Corey Kispert – Deni Avdija – Kyle Kuzma – Kristaps Porzingis

Injury Report

Clippers: Paul George (left knee) questionable, Reggie Jackson (left Achilles) questionable, Norman Powell(groin) out, Ivica Zubac (left knee) out

Wizards: Kristaps Porzingis (back) available, Bradley Beal (right hamstring) questionable, Rui Hachimura (right ankle) out, Delon Wright (right hamstring) out

The Big Picture

Inconsistent is the word that best sums up the Clippers season to this point. They had recently strung together a solid couple of games, including one of the best wins of the season against the Boston Celtics, and seemingly had some momentum built up. But a bevy of injuries left them shorthanded against the Phoenix Suns and they ended up with one of their worst losses of the season.

What is a little bit concerning is that Ivica Zubac is among the most recent injuries. There is absolutely nobody else on the roster that can come close to replicating Zubac’s impact on the court this season, especially on the defensive end. The Clippers were already small in the frontcourt to begin with, and this leaves them even more thin having to rely on Moses Brown – who to this point has shown little more than occasional flashes, and Moussa Diabate who is still very raw as a rookie.

And Reggie Jackson, who has been the Clippers ultimate warrior playing through various ailments, is also sidelined.

The good news for the Clippers is that Kawhi Leonard is back in the lineup after missing the Suns game due to his customary rest on the second night of a back to back. Luke Kennard should also be back after missing the Suns game due to right calf soreness. Those two players are critical to the Clippers offense in their ability to handle the ball, create off the dribble and knock down shots. With Leonard in particular, while he is clearly still getting back up to game speed, his mere presence does wonders for the offense. He is someone opposing defenses need to be aware of and he’s able to open up scoring opportunities for everyone else on the court.

It’s clearly frustrating for both the players and the fans having to deal with an ever-rotating lineup for the second straight season. There’s still a lot of basketball left to be played, but regular season continuity matters a lot.

The Antagonist

The Washington Wizards come to town in dire straights having dropped eight consecutive games and 11 of their last 12. This is simply not a good basketball team, and if rumors are to be believed, Kyle Kuzma, one of their lone bright spots, has one foot out the door already.

They will get some help back though in the form of Kristaps Porzingis, who missed their last game against the Denver Nuggets with a back issue. He played well against the Clippers in their meeting just a few days ago in Washington. They may or may not have Bradley Beal who is listed as questionable after missing five games with a hamstring issue.

In their last meeting, the Clippers narrowly escaped the nation’s capital with a close win. John Wall was a key catalyst due to him being back in Washington, the place where his NBA career began. The Wizards were shorthanded then as well.

The Clippers are more than capable of beating this team at home even with the players who most likely will be out. But as inconsistent as this team has been, its tough to really predict what happens.

Clippers vs. Wizards Game Preview
David Yapkowitz

The Clippers, coming off two brutal losses, take on the floundering Wizards on the road in DC.

Game Information

Where: Capital One Center, Washington, DC

When: 3:00 PM PT

How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: John Wall – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac

Wizards: Monte Morris – Corey Kispert – Deni Avdija – Kyle Kuzma – Kristaps Porzingis

Injuries

Clippers: Norm Powell Out (Groin), Reggie Jackson Out (Rest), Terance Mann Questionable (Concussion), Moussa Diabate Out (G-League)

Wizards: Bradley Beal Out (Hamstring), Delon Wright Out (Hamstring), Rui Hachimura Out (Ankle)

The Big Picture

The scuffling 14-13 Clippers are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference, but are only two games back of 4th. The Clippers’ defense has remained fairly strong on the season, though it’s slipped of late, and that is a cause for concern. When the Clippers’ stars have played, their offense has been fine, a huge step up from the “putrid” it is without them. Still, the Clippers have looked discombobulated on both ends for much of the season, and the lack of cohesion due to injuries and load management is apparent.

The Antagonist

The Wizards have lost five games in a row and eight of their last 10, falling to 11th in the East. The root cause has been a failing defense, which has been declining since Delon Wright went out with an injury. The Wizards have talent, but their Big 3 of Beal, Porzingis, and Kuzma is not extremely impressive at this point in their careers, and none of their young guys is a true top talent. They’ll probably hang around the play-in, but it’s tough to see where this team is going.

Notes

John Wall Returns to DC: Even though he was traded by the Wizards two years ago, John Wall has not played in DC since then. With Reggie Jackson out, Wall will start and play the bulk of the point guard and minutes, and is going to get a thunderous ovation. Will he dazzle the crowd with amazing play, or get caught up in the moment and blunder? Or a mix of the two? no matter, it will be a great scene in DC.

Clippers vs Wizards Preview: Two Struggling Teams
Robert Flom

The Clippers will hope to get off their two-game losing streak at home against the mediocre Wizards. Keep reading for a full preview of the Clippers’ game against the Wizards.

Game Information

Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal

Projected Starting Lineups

Wizards: Ish Smith – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Corey Kispert – Kyle Kuzma – Kristaps Porzingis

Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Terance Mann – Nicolas Batum – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac

Injuries

Wizards: Bradley Beal Out (Wrist), Raul Neto Questionable (Ankle), Vernon Carey Jr. Doubtful (Hip)

Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Paul George Out (Elbow), Robert Covington Questionable (Personal), Jay Scrubb Out (Foot), Jason Preston Out (Foot)

Notes

Guarding Kristaps: Kristaps Porzingis played his first game for the Wizards on Sunday, and scored 25 points in 21 minutes on excellent efficiency. Porzingis is someone the Clippers are very familiar with, albeit not in this context as a team’s “star”, as he will be taking the lead in Washington with Bradley Beal out. Porzingis is someone who has torched the Clippers, but also had some absolute duds against them. If the Clippers can keep him from getting hot from three and force him into post-ups and midrange jumpers, they should stand a better chance of taking home the victory.

Attacking the Paint: Along those lines, the Wizards’ best rim protector, Daniel Gafford, is now coming off the bench. When Porzingis (or Thomas Bryant, if he plays) are in, the Clippers should attack the basket as much as possible. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma are solid perimeter defenders, but the Wizards have a dearth of defense outside of those guys – the Clippers should not only be able to get to the rim against the likes of Kispert, Ish Smith, and Raul Neto (if he plays), but they should be able to finish against Porzingis and Bryant. Once the Clippers attack, they can do the paint and spray offense that has been so effective for them at times, and hopefully unlock their outside shooting.

That about does it for this preview of the Clippers’ game against the Wizards. Leave your comments below!

Clippers vs. Wizards Game Preview: Ending the Slide
Robert Flom