Harden tallies 43 points as the Clippers dominate the struggling Wizards with a score of 121-96.

James Harden delivered an impressive performance, scoring a season-high 43 points in just 32 minutes, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a commanding 121-96 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. This defeat marked the Wizards' 13th consecutive loss. Harden made seven 3-pointers, netting 23 points in the first quarter alone, and surpassed his previous season high of 29 points by halftime. The 10-time All-Star achieved his highest scoring total since he recorded 44 points against Detroit on March 26, 2021, despite leaving the game at the end of the third quarter. Ivica Zubac contributed significantly with 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, who have now won six of their last seven games. This victory represents Los Angeles' second-largest margin of victory this season, following a 26-point win at Philadelphia two games prior. For Washington, Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas each scored 17 points, but the team suffered a setback when leading scorer Kyle Kuzma left the game due to a left rib injury after only eight minutes of play.

Takeaways: Clippers: Despite facing a lengthy injury list that includes six-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard (knee) throughout the season, Los Angeles reached the 20-game mark with a record of 12-8. Wizards: Washington is now three losses away from equaling last season's longest losing streak of 16 games, which contributed to a franchise-worst record of 15-67.

Key moment: The Clippers maintained control throughout the game, but solidified their lead when Harden made consecutive 3-pointers, extending the advantage to 81-59 with 3:47 remaining in the third quarter.

Key stat: Harden's 23-point first quarter marked the ninth occasion he has scored at least 23 points in a single period, according to StatMuse, and it was his first such performance since July 31, 2020.

Up next: The Clippers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, while the Wizards are set to play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.