Cassell takes this one back

Perhaps at some point soon, Sam Cassell won’t have the ball in the fourth quarter with the Clippers under pressure.

For now, though, just try taking it from him.

The 14-year veteran stills plays it cool better than most in the NBA, and he delivered with things tense again, scoring 35 points and making the go-ahead free throws Thursday night in a 96-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets in front of 18,050 at Staples Center.

Cassell overcame his costly turnover with 18.2 seconds remaining that helped the Nuggets reclaim the lead, stepping to the line and making two free throws with 12 seconds left to close the scoring.

Denver played almost the final 21 minutes of the game without star forward Carmelo Anthony, who was assessed two technical fouls and ejected in the third quarter.

“You know that’s what I do,” said Cassell, who turns 37 on Nov. 18. “A lot of guys don’t like taking shots in the fourth quarter, but that doesn’t bother me. For me, it’s easier to take a shot in the fourth quarter than in the first.

“I’ve been playing this game a long time, nobody needs to tell me that, but I’m doing the same things I’ve always done. That’s just me. Know what I’m saying?”

The Clippers withstood the Nuggets’ attempts to score a go-ahead basket in the final 12 seconds, hanging on when Earl Boykins missed a desperation jumper in the final second.

Tim Thomas grabbed the ball and tossed it the length of the court as the crowd celebrated the Clippers’ first victory in their home opener, and it seemed fitting Thomas’ long toss punctuated the moment.

The team’s new long-range specialist made five of 11 three-pointers and scored 21 points off the bench for the Clippers, who also got 13 points from reserve Corey Maggette. A night after losing in their season opener against the Phoenix Suns, the Clippers overcame a 10-point deficit in the final quarter behind Cassell, and that’s sure familiar.

“Sam and Tim stepped up and made huge shots,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Tim also made some good plays with the ball, finding other guys, and at the end we came up with some big stops. Down the stretch defensively, we smothered ‘em.”

Trailing, 82-72, with seven minutes left in the fourth, the Clippers followed Cassell’s lead and good things happened for them. Cassell, who shot 13 for 24 from the field in the game, scored 18 points in the fourth and had all of his six assists.

Thomas had 11 points in the quarter, and an assist on Quinton Ross’ jumper then gave the Clippers a 91-90 lead with 1:09 to play.

Andre Miller raced down the court, penetrated into the lane and found J.R. Smith, who connected on a three-pointer that enabled the Nuggets to go ahead, 93-91, with 52.5 seconds to play.

The Clippers went ahead again, 94-93, on Thomas’ fifth three-pointer with 36.9 seconds to go. It appeared the Clippers had secured their first victory of the season when Elton Brand blocked Miller’s shot and Kenyon Martin was called for a foul against Ross while going for the rebound.

But Cassell lost the ball in the backcourt. Smith, who led the Nuggets with 21 points, grabbed it and went in for the go-ahead dunk with only 18.2 seconds to go.

“He fouled me,” Cassell said. “But that’s OK. I knew what I had to do.”

Yakhouba Diawara fouled Cassell, whose two free throws with 12 seconds left gave the Clippers a 96-95 lead. Then the Clippers made their final defensive stand.

“Sam and Tim were really big,” said Brand, who had only eight points and six rebounds. “We lost [Vladimir Radmanovic] and we replaced him with Tim, and we felt that he was an upgrade. He’s showing it already.”

jason.reid@latimes.com