Cassell sinks Nuggets; Anthony ejected
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sam Cassell scored 35 points and made a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 96-95 victory in their home opener against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
The Nuggets, playing their season opener, were without star Carmelo Anthony for most of the second half. He was ejected after drawing two technicals in a three-minute span early in the third quarter.
Cassell sank the free throws after his turnover in the backcourt six seconds earlier had led to J.R. Smith's layup that gave Nuggets a 95-94 lead.
A 20-footer by Denver's Earl Boykins bounced off the rim and the Clippers rebounded as time expired.
Tim Thomas had 21 points off the bench in his first game for the Clippers in Los Angeles, including three three-pointers in the final 2:38. Corey Maggette added 13 points and Elton Brand was held to eight points on just nine shots.
Marcus Camby had 16 points and 18 rebounds for Denver, and Smith led the Nuggets with 21 points.
When Anthony left, angrily pulling his jersey off and tossing it into the air as he walked down the hall to the locker room, the Clippers were up 56-54 with 8:22 left in the third. He was the Nuggets' leading scorer at the time with 15 points, all in the first half.
He drew his first technical after he was called for a foul 45 seconds into the third period, then was tossed shortly afterward for arguing a charging call against him - his fourth personal foul of the game.
With Anthony gone, Camby picked up some of the slack inside, and he had two rebounds and hit a pair of 20-foot jumpers in the final minute of the third quarter as the Nuggets spurted out to a 70-65 lead.
