Clippers' Thornton taking advantage of playing time
The Los Angeles Clippers are not having the season they had hoped for. One bright spot has been rookie Al Thornton, who continues to prove that he has a bright future ahead of him.
The Clippers selected Thornton out of Florida State with the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Thornton is averaging 11.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in his first 51 NBA games. He is shooting 43.4 percent from the floor, including 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Thornton has registered double-digits in scoring in 25 contests this season. The Florida State product has scored in double-digits in eight straight games and is averaging 18.9 points and 6.6 rebounds during that stretch.
The Los Angeles Clippers (19-35) are in the cellar in the Pacific Division, and will most likely miss the playoffs for a second straight year.
LA concludes a six-game homestand when it welcomes the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday to the Staples Center. It is the first meeting of the season between the clubs. The Clippers were 3-1 against Portland last season and have won seven of the last eight contests in the series.
Portland has lost eight straight after winning its last two at the Clippers.
Los Angeles has dropped two in a row and is 2-3 on the stand. Paul Pierce led a balanced Boston attack with 17 points and the Celtics ended a five-game West Coast swing with a 104-76 romp over the Clippers on Monday at the Staples Center.
Tim Thomas led Los Angeles with 15 points and nine rebounds in the loss to Boston, while Corey Maggette and rookie Thornton contributed 11 points apiece.
The Clippers are 11-18 at home this season. They will visit Allen Iverson and the Denver Nuggets on Friday at the Pepsi Center.
On the injury front for the Clippers, center Chris Kaman (sore lower back) and veteran guard Sam Cassell (sprained right wrist) are doubtful for Wednesday's contest. Chris Kaman is averaging 16.2 points and a team-best 13.3 rebounds per game this season, while Sam Cassell leads the Clippers in assists (4.7 apg) and has posted 12.8 points per game.
The Clippers are 4-4 in their last eight games. They scored at least 100 points in three of the four victories during the stretch, and failed to reach the century mark in the four losses.
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