Clippers vs Wizards

Los Angeles, winners of five straight and 12 of their last 14 as they climb back into the Western play-in mix at the season’s halfway point, should still have enough depth to justify a moneyline play at -286 against a Wizards team on a six-game skid and drifting toward lottery positioning. ([oddscrowd.com](https://oddscrowd.com/games/los-angeles-clippers-vs-washington-wizards-nba-january-19-2026/5496300/game-preview?utm_source=openai)) Even with Kawhi Leonard ruled out for this East Coast leg, James Harden orchestrating an offense that just handled Washington comfortably last week and a front line featuring John Collins, Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez is a major edge against a Wizards rotation missing Trae Young, Cam Whitmore, Bilal Coulibaly and Tristan Vukcevic. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/lac/sort/height/la-clippers)) Laying this kind of juice isn’t ideal from a value standpoint, but the combination of form, matchup advantages and Washington’s injury depletion makes a Clippers moneyline a reasonably strong, if expensive, play — worthy of a B grade for high win probability but modest payout. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 19/01/2026 10:06

Washington’s league-worst defense, giving up nearly 124 points per night, paired with a Clippers offense that averages about 112 points and just hung 119 on the Wizards in their recent meeting, points me toward the Over 224.5 despite Kawhi Leonard’s absence. ([sportsbookreview.com](https://www.sportsbookreview.com/scores/nba-basketball/matchup/362656?utm_source=openai)) The Wizards have seen 29 of their 41 games clear this number, while Clippers contests have gone over this total in nearly half their slate, and both teams’ combined scoring and combined points allowed sit several points above 224.5, reflecting fast pace and shaky resistance. ([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nba/clippers-vs-wizards-prediction-odds-picks-jan-19?utm_source=openai)) With Washington still relying on young scorers like Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and Khris Middleton to carry usage while Trae Young and Cam Whitmore remain out, their offense is volatile but their transition defense is even more exploitable, so I’m grading Over 224.5 at B-: attractive given the matchup and season-long trends, but slightly downgraded for the scoring uncertainty created by all the injuries. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/wsh/salary)) Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 19/01/2026 10:06

James Harden’s Clippers, 5-0 ATS in their last five and historically dominant against Washington, look capable of covering -6.5 on the road even without Kawhi Leonard, given how thoroughly they controlled the prior matchup and how improved their defense has been during this surge. ([tonyspicks.com](https://www.tonyspicks.com/2026/01/19/la-clippers-vs-washington-wizards-prediction-1-19-26-nba-picks-today/?utm_source=openai)) The Wizards, meanwhile, are 3-7 in their last 10 with a 4-6 ATS mark, bleeding nearly 124 points per game and now further undermanned in the backcourt and on the wing with Trae Young, Bilal Coulibaly, Cam Whitmore and Tristan Vukcevic all sidelined, which stretches their already thin rotation across 41 grueling games. ([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/nba/clippers-vs-wizards-prediction-odds-picks-jan-19?utm_source=openai)) With both teams at midseason and the Clippers chasing crucial Western Conference positioning while Washington tilts toward development mode, I’m comfortable laying the points, but Kawhi’s absence and the potential for late garbage-time scoring keep this at a B- rather than a higher-confidence hammer. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 19/01/2026 10:06