Rookie keeps coming through

It’s a basic truth, but one still too heavy to put on a rookie’s shoulders.

When forward Al Thornton performs well, so, for the most part, do the Clippers.

“The bottom line for us right now is that when Al has a big game, we win,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Corey [Maggette] is giving us his numbers and you get numbers from other guys.

“We are missing what we are normally missing from Elton [Brand] and when you get that from Al, we win.”

Thornton has scored at least 20 points in eight games this season, seven coming in the new year.

The Clippers are 5-3 in those games.

He is averaging 20 points his last seven games and 11 points this season, the most for a Clippers lottery selection in his rookie year since Lamar Odom averaged 16.6 points in the 1999-2000 season.

The nervousness Thornton displayed at the beginning of the season appears long gone.

“It’s a little easier now,” Thornton said. “I think I’m more patient and not so much in a hurry. . . . Now I’m picking and choosing.”

Said Dunleavy: “He’s a rookie, he’s doing a lot of good things for us, but you wouldn’t necessarily expect that to be there every night. It’s just not going to happen, but it’s happened more frequently for us, which is a good thing.

“He’s got great body control. He’s always able to avoid a charge and get fouled. Right now, I don’t think he’s getting foul calls he deserves. He’s doing a great job of hanging onto that ball for a long time after contact happens and then still trying to finish.”

Although center Chris Kaman said he was disappointed in the Clippers’ performance, developing Thornton now will pay dividends.

“We’ve got to keep playing and keep fighting and maybe get [Thornton] more opportunities and more touches and make him better,” Kaman said. “He’s been playing well lately. I think we just need to work on stuff. You don’t ever want to give up.”

Asked whether Thornton reminded him of any former NBA players, Dunleavy mentioned Dominique Wilkins.

“In that mode, the guy can go out and shoot the ball and play above the rim and he does a lot of things,” Dunleavy said.

--

Point guard Sam Cassell, sidelined the last two games because of a sprained right wrist, said he would try to play tonight against the Boston Celtics.

“I got some rest, some ice and treatment [Sunday] and I’ll get more treatment later on,” said Cassell, who added he had not heard from agent David Falk regarding a buyout of his contract.

Cassell said his wrist becomes aggravated when he tries to dribble hard, but the chance to play against Kevin Garnett, a former teammate with the Minnesota Timberwolves, is too enticing.

“I want to play against him anyway,” Cassell said. “I love competing against him.”

Kaman (sore lower back) is doubtful tonight after also sitting out the Clippers’ loss to the Lakers on Saturday.

TONIGHT

vs. Boston, 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 19-34, Celtics 42-12.

Record vs. Celtics -- 0-1.

Update -- The Celtics are finding out how tough the deep Western Conference truly is. Boston started the season 16-0 against Western Conference teams, but is 1-3 on a five-game trip that concludes tonight. The Celtics beat the Clippers, 111-100, on Feb. 6 in Boston, a game in which Sam Cassell was ejected late in the first half after a flagrant foul on Celtics point guard Rajon Rando.

--

jonathan.abrams@latimes.com