[espn]Cassell's free throws beat Nuggets, cap 35-point night

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=261102012

Cassell's free throws beat Nuggets, cap 35-point night

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Sam Cassell scored 35 points and made a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 96-95 victory in their home opener against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

The Nuggets, playing their season opener, were without star Carmelo Anthony for most of the second half. He was ejected after drawing two technicals in a three-minute span early in the third quarter.

Cassell sank the free throws after his turnover in the backcourt six seconds earlier had led to J.R. Smith's layup that gave Nuggets a 95-94 lead.

A 20-footer by Denver's Earl Boykins bounced off the rim and the Clippers rebounded as time expired.

Tim Thomas had 21 points off the bench in his first game for the Clippers in Los Angeles, including three 3-pointers in the final 2:38. Corey Maggette added 13 points and Elton Brand was held to eight points on just nine shots.

Marcus Camby had 16 points and 18 rebounds for Denver, and Smith led the Nuggets with 21 points.

Los Angeles eliminated the Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs last season, the first postseason series win for the Clippers franchise in 30 years.

When Anthony left, angrily pulling his jersey off and tossing it into the air as he walked down the hall to the locker room, the Clippers were up 56-54 with 8:22 left in the third. He was the Nuggets' leading scorer at the time with 15 points, all in the first half.

He drew his first technical after he was called for a foul 45 seconds into the third period, then was tossed shortly afterward for arguing a charging call against him -- his fourth personal foul of the game.

With Anthony gone, Camby picked up some of the slack inside, and he had two rebounds and hit a pair of 20-foot jumpers in the final minute of the third quarter as the Nuggets spurted out to a 70-65 lead.

The Clippers led by as much as 42-35 with 4:39 left in the second quarter, but Anthony scored six points the rest of the period and Denver closed the gap to 49-48 at halftime. Cassell had 15 first-half points for Los Angeles, then scored 14 in the final quarter.

The NBA, trying to eliminate complaints and other reactions after calls, is clamping down on such behavior this season. There is no new rule, but players and coaches were alerted during the preseason that such reactions would no longer be tolerated.

 

Cassell actually looked as if he had gone back in time five years in the season opener, scoring 35 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out six assists in leading the Clippers to a 96-95 comeback win. He made himself at home after the game as he slipped on a white robe, slippers and brushed his teeth in front of his locker. "Sorry to be brushing my teeth," said the 36-year-old as he finished up. "I'm just too tired to do this at home." Elton Brand could relate to Cassell's exhaustion but still laughed when he heard about Cassell's close attention to his dental hygiene. "Well, this is our home," said Brand with a smile. "This feels more like our home than it ever has before."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/arash_markazi/11/03/on.scene/index.html