Wizards-Clippers Preview

(AP) -- John Wall has achieved some notable firsts this season, including beating Chris Paul for the first time.

The surging Washington Wizards superstar will try to get another victory over Paul and earn his first road win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

Washington (40-28) has won five straight to move within one game of a season-high run set Dec. 8-19. That streak included a 104-96 home victory over the Clippers (44-25) on Dec. 12 in which Wall finished with 10 points and 11 assists while Paul had 19 and six but also a season high-tying six turnovers.

Although his point total was more than seven below his season average, Wall poked the ball away from Paul and off Paul's leg to win possession for Washington twice in the contest. Paul's teams had been 6-0 against Wall's Wizards.

These point guards like the ball in their hands, with Wall averaging a league-high 8.2 minutes of possession and Paul at 7.8.

Wall has notched other milestones this season, including his first victories over Derrick Rose and first win over Tony Parker and the Spurs. Now he'll try to help the Wizards end a six-game road slide in this series.

The Wizards seem capable of doing it after extending their streak by opening this four-game trip with Wednesday's 88-84 victory over Utah. Wall scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half, and finished with six assists and nine rebounds.

"John was big," coach Randy Wittman said. "Made some big plays. Made some big shots. And defended. The whole gamut there."

Wall is averaging 22.4 points and 58.9 percent shooting in the win streak. He sprained his ankle late Wednesday yet stayed in the game.

"I want to play, I want to compete," Wall said. "I tightened my shoe as tight as possible and ran it off."

Paul was similarly spectacular in his last game with 30 points and 11 assists in Wednesday's 116-105 win at Sacramento. He has averaged 23.6 points and 50.0 percent shooting in his last five contests.

J.J. Redick added 27 points, making a season-high seven 3-pointers - five off assists from Paul.

"J.J. is one of the best shooters I've ever played with," Paul said. "He's a lights-out shooter."

The Clippers are 2-1 since Blake Griffin returned from a 15-game absence after surgery to remove a staph infection in his right elbow. Griffin has turned in back-to-back 19-point efforts.

Washington comes to town with a red-hot shooter in Paul Pierce, who has averaged 17.0 points and 62.2 percent shooting in his last four games and made 12 of his last 19 3-pointers.

"I'm only third all-time on the 3-point list or fourth," he joked. "If they're going to leave me open, I'm going to continue to shoot."

Los Angeles is second in the NBA in field-goal percentage at 47.0, with Washington third at 46.8. The Wizards have the edge in defensive field-goal percentage (43.5 to 44.5) and have held their last five opponents to 39.8 percent, with Utah finishing at 41.5.

"It should build our confidence going into it since this is a tough road trip," Pierce said. "It doesn't get any easier, you got the Los Angeles Clippers, who are playing well."