LOS ANGELES — This was going to be one of those “get right” games, an opportunity for the Clippers to fix issues that threatened to undo the good they had accomplished the previous two months.
The lowly Washington Wizards, winners of just nine games this season, were the perfect opponents to get that done.
And the Clippers didn’t waste the occasion, coming away with a needed 140-115 victory on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
But the feel-good victory was tempered by the news that Russell Westbrook suffered a fractured left hand during the second quarter, spoiling his bobblehead night.
With 10:01 left in the first half, Wizards guard Jordan Poole inadvertently hit Westbrook’s hand with his elbow as the Clippers guard attempted to steal the ball. Westbrook stayed in the game for the next three possessions before heading to the locker room.
There was no word from the Clippers on how long the nine-time All-Star will be out.
“Just feel bad for Russ right now,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “You never want to see a player get hurt. … We don’t know the timetable, don’t know if he needs surgery or anything yet, but he’s out right now. So just trying to figure it out.”
All-Star Paul George said it was difficult to see Westbrook go out.
“He’s one of the most durable people we have,” George said.
The future Hall of Fame point guard has played in every game this season, averaging 11.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 23 minutes. He had moved to the bench following the Nov. 1 trade for James Harden but remained an important part of the lineup as the Clippers chase their first NBA title.
Asked what the Clippers will miss in Westbrook’s absence, Harden said, “everything … his athleticism, his energy, his playmaking ability, his leadership.”
The loss of Westbrook didn’t derail the Clippers. Unlike their previous eight games, the Clippers (37-20) cut down their turnovers (nine), played hard on defense, especially in transition, and shot 57.4% from the field and 40.6% from 3-point range to get back to winning. They had lost four of their past eight games, including the previous two.
Having George back on the court made that easier. He returned after missing the previous two games because of meniscus irritation in his left knee and quickly made up for lost time. He had 17 points in the first half and finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes.
“I just needed some time off,” George said of his absence. “It was a rough stretch going into the break, coming out of the break, and so just my body needed that rest. But I felt good tonight and was able to walk out clean.”
Having George back took some of the load off fellow All-Star Kawhi Leonard, who has been carrying the team lately. Not that Leonard didn’t do his share. He scored 27 points to go with nine rebounds and four assists.
Harden overcame a scoreless first quarter to lead the Clippers with a team-high 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting (6 for 9 from 3-point range) and eight assists. He scored 21 of his points in the second quarter.
“James, he plays the game the right way,” Lue said. “Takes what the defense gives him, and that’s what great players do. A slow start doesn’t deter them from being aggressive and doing what they do.”
Harden shot 7 for 9 in the second quarter, including knocking down four straight 3-pointers with a long distance heat check for emphasis. He tied his career-high for points in a period, matching his fourth quarter at Indiana on Dec. 18. Harden helped the Clippers go up by as many as 19 before taking a 79-64 lead at halftime.
“These last few games, my 3 ball, I’ve been putting the work it, it just didn’t fall,” Harden said. “If you continue to put the work in, things got to go your way. Tonight was one of those games where I just kept shooting, and it felt good.”
The Clippers maintained their focus throughout the second half. Lue said he reminded his team before the game that if they simply competed at a high level, “everything else will take care of itself.” They listened, stretching their lead to 28 points in the third quarter.
The huge advantage enabled Lue to play the second unit, including little-used Bones Hyland, for a significant chunk of time in the third quarter and at the start of the fourth. Hyland is expected to fill in for Westbrook going forward.
Playing their first game since blowing a 21-point fourth-quarter lead against the Lakers on Wednesday, the Clippers were in no danger of being on the wrong end of a dramatic comeback in this one, despite a big game from Kyle Kuzma.
Kuzma led the Wizards (9-51) with 32 points (26 before halftime) on 13-of-19 shooting (5 for 7 from behind the arc), while Jordan Poole came off the bench for 16 points. Deni Avdija added 14 points and Marvin Bagley III had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Clippers now head to Minnesota and Milwaukee for back-to-back games Sunday and Monday. The Timberwolves (42-18), who lead the Western Conference, present a difficult matchup for the Clippers, who lost to them by 21 points on Feb. 12.
The Bucks (40-21) are in third place in the Eastern Conference.
“Extremely, extremely, extremely (tough),” George said of the trip that concludes with a game at the Houston Rockets.
“We want to play well going into those environments. Minnesota has had our number and it’s been a team that’s given us a lot of trouble. Milwaukee obviously will be a tough matchup with our first time seeing him on their floor.
“But yeah, I mean (this victory) is a good momentum driver going into a tough road trip.”
HARDEN CATCHING FIRE. 4 STRAIGHT THREES.
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