Clippers want to start their next winning streak; Wizards just want to win

As the Los Angeles Clippers continue their four-game road defeat in Washington, DC on Wednesday night, they will look to start a new winning streak at the expense of the struggling Wizards.

Los Angeles’ five-game winning streak ended Monday with a 126-94 loss to the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics on the second date of its road trip.

Monday’s loss marked a rare defensive lapse for the Clippers this season. They held each of their previous four opponents to fewer than 100 points, including the high-scoring Golden State Warriors, who won 102-99 on Nov. 18.

“I told our guys (Boston is) they’re a great team, but don’t get upset. Continue to build on what we have established, and that means playing hard. This is competition. “Don’t complain to the officials and do things right,” Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue said Monday. “That’s all you can ask of your guys. … Keep playing with good habits and Calm and don’t let what we have built take away from you.”

What the Clippers have built so far in 2024-25 is one of the best defenses in the NBA, holding their opponents to the fourth-lowest scoring average in the league at 107.5 points per game. Los Angeles was exceptionally good at defending the 3-point shot, limiting opponents to 34.1 percent shooting from distance.

After making 22 of 51 shots from distance against Boston, the Clippers will look to regroup against a Washington offense that ranks among the NBA’s worst in several categories, including 3-point shooting.

The Wizards are shooting 32.5 percent from 3-point range and are averaging just 108.5 points per game. Washington’s 127-108 loss to the Bulls in the first leg of this week’s back-to-back set was the Wizards’ 12th straight loss.

However, rookie Alexandre Sarr has had strong games in Washington’s last two games in a row. After his 17-point, 14-rebound performance in a 115-103 loss to Indiana on Sunday, he had 20 points, seven rebounds and 4 of 5 shooting from 3-point range on Tuesday.

“He’s starting to slow down and really find his touch behind the 3 (point line),” Malcolm Brogdon told the Washington Post about Sarr. “And he’s also learning to roll a little bit, create variety and keep the defense on its toes.”

Sarr’s emergence came as Washington’s leading scorer, Jordan Poole, who was averaging 21.2 points per game, was sidelined with a hip injury. Poole’s availability for Wednesday is questionable.

The Clippers’ Norman Powell, who averaged a career-best 23.3 points per game, has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. His status for Wednesday is uncertain.

Amir Coffey started in Powell’s place during this stretch, starting with 18 points in a win over the Orlando Magic on November 20th. Coffey’s scoring output has declined in every game he has started, finishing with four points against the Celtics on Monday.

James Harden picked up the score in the Clippers’ first three games without Powell, scoring 24, 22 and 23 points in wins against Orlando, the Sacramento Kings and the Philadelphia 76ers. Ivica Zubac led Los Angeles in Boston with 23 points and his 10 rebounds gave him his fourth straight double-double.

–Field level media