Clippers-Wizards Preview

By JACK CASSIDY

(AP) -- The Washington Wizards have rarely fared well against Los Angeles in recent years, and the Clippers come into the nation's capital on a nine-game winning streak.

Washington, though, has rarely opened a season with the sort of success it's experienced thus far.

The Wizards look to establish the best home start in franchise history Friday night when they face the Clippers.

Washington is trying to move to 11-2 at home after Paul Pierce score 28 and John Wall added 26 points in the most recent victory at the Verizon Center, 133-132 in double overtime over Boston on Monday.

The Wizards (15-6) then won 91-89 at Orlando on Wednesday. Washington committed a season-low 10 turnovers and had 26 assists, improving to 10-0 when it records at least that many.

"When we play that way, it makes it hard for the other team," coach Randy Wittman said. "If we're getting 10 or 12 assists, we're going to get beat every time. We move bodies, we move the ball and we don't worry about who's getting shots. Normally we have guys on the floor who can score."

Wall is second in the league with 10.4 assists per game while Chris Paul, his counterpart Friday, is fourth with 10.1. Paul, though, is enjoying a career-best turnover average (1.7) while Wall gives it away 4.0 times per game - fourth-most in the NBA.

Paul has helped Los Angeles (16-5) post the fourth-best win streak in franchise history, and he was also with the Clippers when they won 17 straight Nov. 28-Dec. 30, 2012, and 11 in a row Feb. 23-March 16.

"I know they have a lot of speed at the guard spot in Wall," coach Doc Rivers told the Clippers' official website. "He's having a superstar year. I know that's one area we have to figure out what we want to do there."

Rivers will be also be trying to figure out a way to limit Pierce, who he coached for nine seasons in Boston.

"Paul's a smart basketball player," Rivers said of Pierce, who is averaging career lows of 13.2 points and 27.2 minutes. "It's his knowledge and his competitiveness. He's a tough competitor. He doesn't like losing."

Washington ranks eighth in the NBA with 97.2 points allowed per game while the Clippers are third in scoring with an average of 106.9.

Including their 103-96 win at Indiana on Wednesday, the Clippers are 15-1 when they score more than 100. Washington has allowed 100 or more points in a game nine times, losing six.

"We got to make it uncomfortable for them," Wizards guard Bradley Beal said. "We've got to hit them, be physical with them and make it uncomfortable on both ends."

The Wizards have lost 10 of their last 11 matchups with the Clippers, including both last season as Los Angeles averaged 111.5 points.

Blake Griffin scored 29 points and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 17 rebounds in Los Angeles' most recent victory over Washington, 110-103 at home Jan. 29. Paul did not play in that game but owns a 54.9 shooting percentage against the Wizards, his best mark against any team.

Wall's average of 21.1 points in eight career games against the Clippers is tied for his best against any club.