Clippers Can Turn The Season Around, Harden Says After Wizards Victory

James Harden says the Los Angeles Clippers now believe they can fully rescue their season after a 119-105 win over the Washington Wizards extended their streak to four games. Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and Harden added 22. The Clippers, once 6-21 and struggling in the Western Conference, are now 11-2 since 20 December and only half a game behind the Memphis Grizzlies for 10th place.

The surge has been driven by stars delivering consistently. Leonard has averaged 32.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals across the last 13 games, underlining two-way impact. Harden, an 11-time NBA All-Star, has provided 24.8 points and 7.8 assists in that span. Those numbers have stabilised the offence and allowed defensive adjustments to show.

"Some teams, when

it gets that bad, they just let the wheels fall off," Harden said. "I had interviews where people were asking me, 'How do you find confidence?' and I was like, 'The confidence is there. The losses are frustrating, but the confidence is still there. ' I think finding little tweaks and being a lot better defensively is what really helped us out. Now we have got to take one game at a time, just like when we were in the hole. We can come all the way back, but we have to chip away, chip away and really build some momentum going into the All-Star break. "

Harden’s comments reflect a shift from early-season pressure to a more measured approach. The focus now is on steady progress rather than quick fixes. The Clippers are treating each fixture as a chance to reduce the gap before the All-Star break, knowing the play-in race in the Western Conference remains tight and unforgiving.

Harden’s recent form has also moved him up the all-time scoring list. Harden passed Shaquille O'Neal to reach ninth place in NBA history, with 28,636 career points. Among active players, only LeBron James, with 42,654 points, and Kevin Durant, with 31,486, have scored more. Harden admitted the milestone carried personal meaning linked to childhood memories.

"That was a surreal moment just because as a kid growing up watching Kobe [Bryant] and Shaq, the Lake Show, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, all those guys," Harden said. "To pass somebody who I really grew up watching, it's unreal for real. "

James Harden discusses homecoming with Los Angeles Clippers

Questions earlier in the season about Harden’s future in Los Angeles were dismissed by Harden, who stressed the value of playing where Harden grew up. The poor start led to speculation about potential changes, yet Harden underlined that representing the hometown franchise carries emotional weight that external debate cannot match.

"It's hard to explain," Harden said. "Being at home, that's like the opportunity of a lifetime for me. Just be able to hoop in front of my family, friends, people I grew up with, people that raised me. It's a different feeling. So as much as people talk all the time. That's social media. That's what people's jobs are to talk. For me, it's just like I'm actually living in it so I can't get caught up in what people talk about, how people feel, whatever the case. I'm from L.A. and I'm blessed to be here. "

Against Washington, the Clippers also received valuable support from the rotation. Yanic Konan Niederhauser contributed 16 points, offering scoring relief alongside Leonard and Harden. Jordan Miller posted 11 points and 10 rebounds, securing a double-double that helped control the glass. That balance has reduced pressure on the main stars during the current 11-2 stretch.

pic.twitter.com/sW5p3UaRhKLA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 15, 2026

The Clippers now sit just outside the Western Conference play-in spots but carry strong momentum. Leonard’s scoring run, Harden’s all-round production and improved defensive focus have reshaped expectations after the 6-21 start. With depth pieces contributing and Harden settled in Los Angeles, the team heads towards the All-Star break targeting continued progress rather than dramatic change.