Cassell Again Carries Clippers’ Clutch Cargo

And again, Sam Cassell.

It’s a familiar story the Clippers have enjoyed revisiting in a season that could become the best in franchise history, and Cassell wrote the latest chapter Sunday in a 115-113 victory in overtime against the Toronto Raptors.

The veteran point guard’s three-pointer with 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation extended play, and Cassell scored 14 of his 27 points in the final 4:32 of the fourth quarter and overtime at the Air Canada Centre.

Cassell, whose three late three-pointers helped provide the difference in Friday’s victory over the Boston Celtics, also had a game-high 13 assists as the Clippers won their third in a row and improved to 3-1 on their longest trip of the season.

They’re assured of at least a .500 record on the six-game, 11-day trip, and have won 11 of 14.

Moreover, the Clippers (28-17) are at least 11 games above .500 for the first time since the 1974-75 season and on pace to break the franchise record of 49 victories.

Cassell is helping to change the Clipper story with each clutch shot, players said.

“Every time we need it, Sam’s there,” said power forward Elton Brand, who scored 30 points, his fourth consecutive game with at least 30.

“I’m just glad I can be a part of it and help him out, and he helps me out. I get a few in there, myself, and he takes the rest. He’s a really special player, especially in that crunch time.”

It seemed the Clippers worked under duress throughout the game Sunday.

The Raptors (17-31) were determined after having lost, 103-100, Nov. 23 at Staples Center, so Cassell figured he would be busy.

“The whole day the game was an iffy game,” said Cassell, a Clipper co-captain with Brand. “It was going their way, then it was going our way, and it was going their way the majority of game.

“But whatever my team needs, if I am able to do it, I am going to try to do my best to do it.”

Trailing, 57-50, at halftime, the Clippers outscored the Raptors, 12-1, to take a 62-60 lead at the 8:13 mark of the third.

Toronto forward Chris Bosh, who had 29 points and 16 rebounds, scored eight points in the quarter and the scored was tied, 77-77, to start the fourth period. Cassell’s three-pointer with 4:32 left tied the score again, 90-90.

The Clippers received a big boost from rookie forward James Singleton, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, including eight points in the fourth.

Brand’s consecutive jumpers enabled the Clippers to pull even, 98-98, with 39.1 seconds to go, and Bosh’s two free throws gave the Raptors a 100-98 lead with 21 seconds left. The Raptors, however, left the door ajar for the Clippers when rookie forward Charlie Villanueva made only one of two free throws inside the eight-second mark to make the score 101-98.

After Coach Mike Dunleavy called a timeout, Cassell connected on an uncontested 25-foot three-pointer at the top of the arc that silenced the crowd. Brand set an effective screen on Toronto point guard Mike James, freeing Cassell for the shot.

Score tied again, 101-101, 5.5 seconds on the clock and a celebration on the Clipper bench. James missed a runner at the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

“There were a couple of options [on the play], but ultimately, Sam was going to come off the screen up top, E.B. got him open and he buried it,” Dunleavy said. “Sam got us into overtime and took it home.”

Cassell scored six points in overtime, and his two free throws gave the Clippers a four-point advantage, 114-110, with less than 16 seconds left.

Cassell, though, said swingman Quinton Ross had the most important play in overtime, coming up with a steal and converting a three-point play with 1:54 left after the Raptors had taken a 110-107 lead on Morris Peterson’s three-pointer.

“Just think about Quinton Ross with that big steal and one,” Cassell said. “That was the biggest play of the game. It gave us a chance to buckle down.”

Bosh converted a three-point play after Singleton fouled him on a shot in the lane, and Brand made one of two free throws in the final 11 seconds. Bosh missed a jumper at the top of the key that would have forced a second overtime, and the Clippers departed Canada pleased.

“This shows us becoming a basketball team,” Cassell said. “We easily could have let this game get away from us, but Elton and myself, we’re not going to allow a team to beat us that we’re supposed to beat.”