The Clippers bring a strong recent run into Washington on MLK Day, while a short-handed Wizards team searches for answers amid a tough rebuild.
By Swikriti | January 19, 2026
The Los Angeles Clippers (18–23) visit the Washington Wizards (10–31) on Monday afternoon at Capital One Arena, with Los Angeles looking to extend a three-game road winning streak and Washington trying to snap a six-game skid. The records suggest a mismatch, but the context is sharper: injuries, missing star power, and two teams trying to find a workable identity at different points of the season.
How to watch Clippers vs Wizards
- Date: Monday, January 19, 2026
- Tip-off: 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT
- Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
- TV: Monumental Sports Network 2 (MNMT2), FanDuel Sports Network SoCal (FDSSC)
- Streaming: Fubo (check regional availability), NBA League Pass (out-of-market)
- Tickets: StubHub
Odds and what they suggest
Sportsbooks have the Clippers as clear favourites, with Los Angeles listed around a 6.5-point favourite and a strong moneyline edge. The total is set in the mid-220s, reflecting how often Washington games turn into track meets — largely because the Wizards have struggled to slow anyone down.
Injury report: who’s out
Both teams are missing meaningful pieces. For Los Angeles, the headline is the continued absence of Kawhi Leonard, which shifts late-game creation and defensive matchups onto other hands. Washington, meanwhile, remain without Trae Young, and several rotation pieces are also unavailable.
Los Angeles Clippers
- Kawhi Leonard: Out (ankle)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic: Out (hamstring)
- Derrick Jones Jr.: Out (knee)
- Bradley Beal: Out for season (hip)
Washington Wizards
- Trae Young: Out (quadriceps)
- Cam Whitmore: Out for season (shoulder)
- Bilal Coulibaly: Out (back)
- Tristan Vukcevic: Out (knee)
Form guide: what each team brings in
The Clippers’ recent stretch has been their best basketball of the season. They’ve won five straight and 12 of their last 16, and crucially, they’ve shown they can survive a game without their headline scorer. In their most recent win, Los Angeles beat the Raptors in overtime even with Leonard sidelined, leaning on James Harden’s control and timely execution.
Washington, on the other hand, are in the grinding phase of a rebuild. They’re winless in their most recent run and are searching for consistent offence without a steady late-game organiser. The Wizards’ young core has flashed — including strong recent scoring from Kyshawn George — but the bigger problem remains defence and closing possessions.
Key matchup themes
1) Can Washington defend without fouling?
The Clippers have been elite at the free-throw line this season, and they put pressure on opponents who reach, gamble, or lose discipline.
If Washington sends Los Angeles to the line early, the game can get away quickly.
2) Harden’s pace control vs Wizards’ chaos.
With Leonard out, Harden becomes the organiser and the release valve. Washington’s best chance is to make possessions messy — but that also risks
giving up the kind of transition looks that turn a close game into a runaway.
3) The glass and the paint.
Washington will need second-chance points to stay alive. If the Wizards can create extra possessions, they can keep the scoreboard within reach,
even if their half-court execution wobbles.
Previous meeting: a recent reference point
These teams met on January 14, when the Clippers handled the Wizards 119–105. That night offered a reminder of how quickly Los Angeles can build separation: one strong defensive quarter, a few stops in a row, and a game that looked even tighter than the final score.
Prediction outlook
Even without Leonard, the Clippers have more structure, more reliable decision-making, and a clearer scoring pathway. Washington’s defence has struggled to protect both the rim and the perimeter, and unless the Wizards turn this into a scrappy, physical game with extra possessions, it’s hard to see them holding up for four quarters.
If Los Angeles start sharply and Harden controls the pace, this has the feel of a game the Clippers can win without needing a perfect night.
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