{"id":36743,"date":"2026-01-19T15:28:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T19:28:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/clippers-face-wizards-without-leonard-seek-6th-straight-win\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T15:28:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T19:28:58","slug":"28379-clippers-face-wizards-without-leonard-seek-6th-straight-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/28379-clippers-face-wizards-without-leonard-seek-6th-straight-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Clippers face Wizards without Leonard, seek 6th straight win"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Clippers<\/b> face the Washington Wizards<\/b> today seeking their sixth consecutive victory<\/b>. Kawhi Leonard<\/b> remains sidelined with a left knee injury. Can the Clippers maintain elite form without their star player?<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n
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  • Game Time:<\/b> 3:00 PM ET on January 19, 2026, MLK Day matinee<\/li>\n
  • Clippers Record:<\/b> 18-23, riding a 5-game winning streak<\/li>\n
  • Wizards Record:<\/b> 10-31, struggling with six straight losses<\/li>\n
  • Leonard’s Status:<\/b> Out indefinitely with left knee contusion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    The Clippers’ Improbable Hot Streak Without Leonard<\/h2>\n

    Los Angeles has transformed into the NBA’s best team<\/b> since December 20th<\/b>, posting a remarkable 12-2 record<\/b>. That dominance came despite knowing Kawhi Leonard<\/b> would be unavailable today.<\/p>\n

    The Clippers won 14 of their last 16 games<\/b> to position themselves firmly back in playoff contention. James Harden<\/b> has been exceptional, averaging 25.8 points and 8.1 assists<\/b> this season while delivering performances like 31 points and 10 assists<\/b> in their last meeting against Washington.<\/p>\n

    What makes this streak special is the defensive intensity<\/b>. The team averages 8.7 steals<\/b> and 4.8 blocks<\/b> per game, suffocating opponents night after night this January.<\/p>\n

    Washington’s Search for Answers in the Basement<\/h2>\n

    The Wizards<\/b> remain one of the league’s most disappointing stories at 10-31<\/b>. Six consecutive losses<\/b> have left them searching desperately for solutions.<\/p>\n

    Trae Young’s absence<\/b> compounds their offensive struggles significantly. Without their primary playmaker, scoring opportunities dry up quickly. The team still shoots respectably at 46.2% from the field<\/b>, but defensive lapses prove costly.<\/p>\n

    This represents Washington’s worst season in recent memory<\/b>, with most analysts projating significant roster changes this offseason. Playing against hot teams like LA<\/b> becomes an uphill battle.<\/p>\n

    Keys to the Game and Matchup Breakdown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Factor<\/td>\nClippers<\/td>\nWizards<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Record<\/td>\n18-23 (5-game streak)<\/td>\n10-31 (6-game slide)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Key Player<\/td>\nJames Harden<\/td>\nJordan Poole<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Form<\/td>\n12-2 since Dec 20<\/td>\nStruggling defensively<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    LA’s free-throw shooting<\/b> has been extraordinary this season, hitting 84.5%<\/b> through 41 games, the best mark at the halfway point since the NBA-ABA merger<\/b>. This separates close games.<\/p>\n

    Harden’s playmaking<\/b> remains the engine. He had 110 thirty-point, ten-assist games<\/b> in his career, the most of any player since the merger. The Wizards<\/b> cannot afford to let him operate freely in pick-and-roll situations.<\/p>\n

    "The Clippers have gone 27-6 against the Wizards since the 2009-10 season, a testament to sustained dominance in this matchup."<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    NBA Official Records<\/b>, Historical Data<\/p>\n

    Can the Clippers Extend Their Dominance in DC?<\/h2>\n

    Seven-point favorites<\/b>, the Clippers come in as heavy picks despite Leonard’s continued absence<\/b>. The over\/under sits at 224.5 points<\/b>, suggesting a moderately paced contest.<\/p>\n

    Depth proves crucial<\/b> for Los Angeles. Role players like Jordan Miller<\/b> and Kris Dunn<\/b> delivered last matchup, each recording four assists, four steals, and three made three-pointers in the same game, a first in Clippers franchise history<\/b>.<\/p>\n

    If LA shoots well from three-point range<\/b>, game over. The Wizards’ perimeter defense<\/b> ranks among the league’s worst, allowing opponents to thrive from distance consistently.<\/p>\n

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    Watch: Clippers vs Wizards Highlights from January 14<\/h3>\n