NBA: Stars guide Clippers to victory over lackluster Wizards

The Los Angeles Clippers leaned into their star tandem again as Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and James Harden added 22 points with eight assists in a 119-105 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif.

Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 16 points and fellow reserve Jordan Miller added 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Clippers extended their winning streak to four games and picked up a victory for the 11th time in 13 games going back to Dec. 20.

Los Angeles shot 47% from the floor while winning for the eighth time in its past nine home games.

Kyshawn George scored 23 points and Khris Middleton added 17 for the Wizards, who lost their fourth consecutive game and fell to 0-2 on a four-game road trip. Marvin Bagley III scored 15 points with 11 rebounds and Will Riley added 12 points as Washington shot 45.6% from the floor and outrebounded the hosts 41-40.

Wizards starting center Alex Sarr received a technical foul in each of the first two quarters and was ejected with under two minutes remaining before halftime after scoring four points.

Trailing by as many as 24 points in the first half, the Wizards made a charge to open the second half, pulling within 83-81 with 3:26 remaining in the third quarter. George scored 12 points for Washington in the third, while Middleton had 10.

The Clippers led 96-89 at the end of three quarters and returned their advantage to double digits at 102-91 with 10:07 remaining after a 3-pointer from Leonard. Another Leonard 3-pointer had Los Angeles up 110-95 with 6:14 left.

Leonard finished the fourth quarter with four 3-pointers and 14 points.

The Clippers led 70-51 at halftime behind 16 points from Harden and 15 from Leonard, while shooting 51.1% compared to 45.7% for the Wizards.

Before the game, Wizards head coach Brian Keefe said that guard Trae Young will not be reevaluated for knee and quad injuries until after the All-Star break. Young was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

--Field Level Media/Reuters