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Wiz hope to cool off Clippers in LA

Jan 29, 2014 - 3:25 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing the end of what has been a successful month and are back home following a lengthy sojourn to host the Washington Wizards Wednesday at Staples Center.

The Clippers went 5-2 on their trip east and are 11-3 in January. The success continued with Monday's 114-86 triumph over the lowly Milwaukee Bucks, as Jamal Crawford led the charge with 25 points off the bench. Blake Griffin scored 20 points, Darren Collison added 15 and DeAndre Jordan chipped in eight points to go along with 18 rebounds.

Los Angeles shot 54.4 percent from the field and made 14-of-28 3-pointers. Crawford was 5-of-9 from downtown in less than 24 minutes of action (23:35) and is averaging 25.4 ppg in his last seven off the bench. The Clippers have made 39-of-71 3-pointers in the last three games.

"We were getting stops and getting to the foul line. We were getting good shots, good open looks, but our defense is what allowed us to do that," Griffin said.

The Clippers are the third highest scoring team in the NBA with 106.2 points per game and have won five in a row at home. They are 18-3 as the host and 6-1 at home against Eastern Conference foes.

Washington will close out a four-game western road trip Wednesday and is 2-1 on the junket after posting an 88-85 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. Bradley Beal had 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while John Wall's 3-pointer late in the game capped the scoring.

Wall added 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Wizards, who shot 37.8 percent for the game and have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games.

"It wasn't a pretty game by either team offensively, but these are the kind of games our defense can win for us when we shoot 37 percent," Wizards head coach Randy Wittman said. "That was a big win for us."

Wittman's squad had a 56-42 advantage on the boards and scored 21 points off 19 Golden State turnovers. The Wizards, though, had 18 miscues in the win.

The Wizards, who will try to move above .500 Wednesday, are 12-11 away from D.C. and will return there for five straight games this weekend versus Oklahoma City, Portland, San Antonio, Cleveland and Sacramento.

Los Angeles defeated Washington, 113-97, on Dec. 14 at the Verizon Center, as injured Clippers guard Chris Paul poured in 38 points and handed out 12 assists. Wall countered with 24 points in that one for the Wizards, who have lost nine of the past 10 matchups in this series.

Washington has lost its last five games at the Clippers.