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One reunion down, one still to come

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Dillman is a Times staff writer.

Reunion Week started early, and you knew it was going to be that way when Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy was asked to revisit the Elton Brand saga . . . on Saturday.

That’s when another reunion was in progress at Staples Center. Baron Davis versus his former team, the Golden State Warriors. And Corey Maggette versus his old Clippers’ buddies, well, the few of them still on hand.

Brand versus his former team, the Clippers, was still well off in the distance, Friday at Philadelphia.

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“We’ll hug and ask about each other’s families and say good luck and then we’ll go to war trying to beat each other up,” Clippers forward Tim Thomas said Monday.

Dunleavy repeated that the Brand controversy of the summer was “totally behind” him.

“Like I said, the only disappointing part about the whole thing was that I never had a call from him explaining it to me,” he said.

More Thomas

Thomas, in recovery mode from a sprained ankle, was limited to slightly less than 12 minutes of playing time against the Warriors and scored six points and made an appeal for more minutes.

“I’ve been put on time restriction, I don’t know why,” said Thomas, who was averaging 11.4 points before Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

“And I recently talked to [trainer] Jasen [Powell] about it, trying to get off it because I’m just trying to win games. You know, whatever Mike decides on doing coaching-wise, that’s his decision. As far as me being ready to play and being out there to play heavy minutes, I’m all for it.”

Having said that, Thomas does understand why he needs to be handled with some care.

“I kind of got worn down last year as far as playing heavy minutes. And then practicing a lot,” he said. “We’re just trying to prevent any further injuries. As far as cutting back in practice, that means I should be fresh for the games. I’m just trying to do my part to help us get over the hump.”

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com

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