Cassell returns from injury, saying the team needs him

Clippers point guard Sam Cassell was ready to “give it a go,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said before Wednesday’s game.

Translation ...

“We’ll see how much pain I can tolerate,” Cassell said beforehand.

He seemed to tolerate a lot. Cassell logged 29 minutes, scoring 17 points in a 98-96 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Cassell missed three of the last four games because of a heel injury and has struggled since being replaced in the starting lineup by Shaun Livingston. Yet, he again showed his worth to the Clippers.

With the Clippers struggling, Cassell said he needed to be in the lineup.

“If we were 13-10, it might be different,” said Cassell, who didn’t play down the stretch for the 10-14 Clippers. “But I know what I bring to the club and we’re behind the eight ball when I’m not out there. The truth is what it is.

“The team needs my leadership out there more than anything. I know how to lead, I enjoy leading and the team expects me to lead. When I’m not out there, it affects everybody from the top on down.”

Leadership is nice, but Cassell’s offense didn’t hurt. He entered the game with 1:41 left in the first quarter and had a team-high 11 points by halftime.

“When he plays to the level he’s capable, it’s great for us,” Dunleavy said.

Cassell’s foot injury, which he said felt “like I’m stepping on a pin,” limited him to 12 minutes or fewer in three of the last four games he has played.

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Quinton Ross, who left Sunday’s game because of back spasms, also returned. Tim Thomas, who left Sunday’s game because of an elbow injury, was available but did not play.

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Center Chris Kaman as Santa Claus?

Kaman stepped in to aid the Boys & Girls Club of Gardena, which was short on toys for a Christmas event on Tuesday.

The club rescheduled the event for today after Kaman promised a donation and a truck with 1,000 toys arrived in Gardena on Wednesday.

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Andy Roeser, the Clippers’ executive vice president, announced that the team was close to naming a contractor to build a practice facility. A decision, Roeser said, could come “as soon as next week.”

chris.foster@latimes.com