The Los Angeles Clippers (18-23) visit the Washington Wizards (10-31) in a cross-conference matchup on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Clippers, 10th in the Western Conference, are riding a five-game winning streak, fueled by James Harden’s playmaking despite Kawhi Leonard’s absence. The Wizards, 14th in the East, have lost six straight and continue to struggle with injuries and defensive lapses (league-worst 120.5 points allowed per game). This game at Capital One Arena could see the Clippers extend their dominance in the series, but Washington’s youthful energy might keep it competitive if they exploit LA’s road inconsistencies (7-14 away). Expect a mid-paced affair with Harden orchestrating against a depleted Wizards backcourt.
Venue Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. This 20,356-seat venue, home to the Wizards since 1997, is known for its vibrant atmosphere during holiday games and features upgraded fan experiences like LED lighting and enhanced concessions.
Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT, 3:00 p.m. local time in Washington). The game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV, with local feeds on FanDuel Sports Network – SoCal (Clippers) and MNMT2 (Wizards). Radio coverage includes WWLS 98.1 FM (Clippers) and WFED 1500 AM (Wizards).
Recent Team Forms
The Clippers are surging, going 8-2 in their last 10 with a +8.2 point differential, emphasizing ball movement and perimeter defense. The Wizards are in freefall, 3-7 in their last 10 with a -9.1 differential, hampered by injuries and turnovers (15.2 per game).
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s last 10 games:
| Date | Opponent | Result (Clippers) | Score |
| Jan 16 | at Toronto Raptors | W (OT) | 121-117 |
| Jan 14 | vs. Washington Wizards | W | 119-105 |
| Jan 11 | vs. Utah Jazz | W | 118-101 |
| Jan 9 | vs. Boston Celtics | L | 115-146 |
| Jan 7 | at Sacramento Kings | W | 131-90 |
| Jan 5 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W | 112-99 |
| Jan 3 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L | 110-114 |
| Jan 1 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L | 107-112 |
| Dec 30 | at Golden State Warriors | W | 129-118 |
| Dec 28 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W | 129-102 |
Overall: 8-2 in last 10 (+82 point differential).
| Date | Opponent | Result (Wizards) | Score |
| Jan 17 | at Denver Nuggets | L | 115-121 |
| Jan 16 | at Sacramento Kings | L | 115-128 |
| Jan 14 | at LA Clippers | L | 105-119 |
| Jan 11 | at Phoenix Suns | L | 93-112 |
| Jan 9 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | L | 107-128 |
| Jan 7 | at Philadelphia 76ers | L | 110-131 |
| Jan 4 | vs. Orlando Magic | W | 120-112 |
| Jan 2 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W | 119-99 |
| Dec 31 | at Milwaukee Bucks | W | 114-113 |
| Dec 29 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L | 101-115 |
Overall: 3-7 in last 10 (-91 point differential).
Injury Report
Los Angeles Clippers:
Kawhi Leonard (F): Out (left knee irritation) – Sent home from road trip; reevaluated Wednesday.
Derrick Jones Jr. (F): Out (right knee sprain).
Bogdan Bogdanovic (G/F): Out (left hamstring injury management).
Bradley Beal (G): Out (left hip fracture).
John Collins (F/C): Available (right groin soreness) – Expected to play limited minutes.
The Clippers are without Leonard’s scoring (23.5 PPG) and defense, relying on Harden and bench depth.
Washington Wizards:
Trae Young (G): Out (right knee MCL sprain; quad contusion) – Re-evaluated after All-Star break.
Cam Whitmore (F): Out for season (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis/venous condition).
Bilal Coulibaly (G/F): Out (lower back strain).
Tristan Vukcevic (F): Out (left hamstring strain/left knee soreness).
The Wizards lack playmaking without Young (expected 25+ PPG) and depth on the wings.
Key
Player Matchups
Injuries shift focus to secondary stars in this matchup, with Harden’s experience testing Washington’s young guards.
James Harden (LAC G) vs. Jordan Poole (WAS G): Harden (22.5 PPG, 10.2 APG) excels in pick-and-roll; Poole (18.7 PPG) must contain him without fouling, but Harden’s step-back could exploit mismatches.
Norman Powell (LAC G/F) vs. Kyshawn George (WAS G): Powell (stepping up with 20+ PPG lately) brings scoring volume; George (14.5 PPG, strong defense) needs to limit transition.
Ivica Zubac (LAC C) vs. Alex Sarr (WAS F/C): Zubac (12.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG) dominates rebounds; Sarr (rookie with 10.2 RPG, 2.1 BPG) offers rim protection but lacks strength.
Kris Dunn (LAC G) vs. Bub Carrington (WAS G): Dunn’s elite defense (1.8 SPG) targets Carrington’s playmaking (9.5 PPG, 4.2 APG).
Other keys: Clippers’ bench depth vs. Wizards’ home energy. LA’s top-10 defense (forces 15.5 turnovers) could capitalize on Washington’s youth (14.8 turnovers per game).
Series History
The all-time series favors the Wizards at 77-56 (133 games), but the Clippers have dominated recently, winning 9 straight and 12 of the last 15. LA is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings. The over has hit in 4 of the last 6, averaging 228 points. Last meeting: Clippers won 119-105 on Jan. 14, 2026, at home. No playoff history between these franchises.
Betting Trends
Spread: Clippers 8-2 ATS in last 10; Wizards 4-6 ATS in last 10 home games.
Over/Under: Over is 4-1 in Clippers’ last 5 road games; under is 5-1 in Wizards’ last 6 overall.
Other Trends: Clippers 5-0 SU in last 5; Wizards 0-6 SU in last 6. Series overs in 4 of last 6; Clippers 7-1 ATS vs. sub-.300 teams this season.
Game Odds
Los Angeles Clippers – 7.5
Washington Wizards 224.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, January 18, 2026
