James Harden scores 43 as Clippers crush struggling Wizards

By IAN NICHOLAS QUILLEN The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — James Harden was feeling it early, and the Washington Wizards had no answer for him.

Harden scored a season-high 43 points in 32 minutes to help the Clippers romp to a 121-96 victory on Wednesday night, handing the struggling Wizards their 13th consecutive defeat.

Harden hit seven 3-pointers, had 23 points in the first quarter and eclipsed his previous season high of 29 by halftime. The 10-time All-Star posted his highest point total since scoring 44 at Detroit on March 26, 2021, despite sitting out the fourth quarter.

Ivica Zubac added 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won six of seven.

It was the Clippers’ second-largest margin of victory this season, after opening a four-game trip with a 26-point win in Philadelphia two games ago.

Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas each scored 17 points for Washington, which lost leading scorer Kyle Kuzma to a left rib injury after he played just eight minutes.

The Clippers were in control throughout, but they erased any doubt about the outcome when Harden hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to stretch the lead to 81-59 with 3:47 left in the third.

Harden’s 23-point first quarter marked the ninth time he scored at least 23 in one period, according to StatMuse, and the first time he has done so since July 31, 2020.

Despite a long injury list that includes six-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard (knee), the Clippers reached the 20-game mark with a 12-8 record.

Washington, meanwhile, is three losses from matching last season’s longest skid of 16 straight defeats on the way to a franchise-worst 15-67 record.

UP NEXT

The Clippers visit Minnesota on Friday at 4:30 p.m. PT.