Rookie Singleton Gets Dunleavy’s Attention

The performance of rookie power forward James Singleton was among the few positives for the Clippers in consecutive blowout losses to the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks last week in Staples Center.

Singleton provided a late spark off the bench against the top-tier teams, scoring, rebounding and playing strong defense. Coach Mike Dunleavy said he has noticed, and Singleton’s role is expected to expand.

“His effort, his energy, is definitely very apparent,” Dunleavy said after practice Saturday in the Spectrum health club at El Segundo. “I’d like to hear anybody’s argument who says it isn’t.”

In the Clippers’ 112-102 loss to the Suns on Wednesday, Singleton, who scored his eight points in the fourth quarter, had eight rebounds in only 18 minutes.

Dunleavy said the 6-foot-8, 215-pound player was as effective in the team’s 101-81 loss to Dallas on Friday.

Singleton contributed five points and six rebounds in 20 minutes, and his defense against Dallas All-Star power forward Dirk Nowitzki pleased Dunleavy.

“So far, the minutes he’s gotten have been particularly because of matchups with smaller power forwards, but he may deserve a shot at other guys,” Dunleavy said. “He may deserve a shot at matchups that maybe you wouldn’t think are in his favor.”

*

Despite their poor performances against the Suns and Mavericks, the Clippers continued to express confidence in their ability to compete with elite teams.

“It’s all a learning experience for this ballclub,” point guard Sam Cassell said. “The teams you’re talking about are some of the best teams in this league, and that’s what we’re striving for.

“So you take the lesson, you learn from it and then you move on.”

*

Backup point guard Shaun Livingston (back soreness) might not play today, a Clipper spokesman said.

*

TODAY

vs. Golden State, 12:30 p.m., Ch. 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 20-16, Warriors 19-19.

Record vs. Warriors --1-0.

Update -- Warrior forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. is averaging 18.7 points and shooting 51.7% from the field in his last six games.