CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: EWING GETTING HIS SHOT.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND Staff Writer

For most Clippers fans, the last memory of point guard Daniel Ewing is not a positive one.

Ewing is remembered for his defense on Phoenix guard Raja Bell in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, when Bell hit a game-changing 3-pointer in overtime.

Phoenix went on to win the series in seven games, and Ewing took some criticism for his defensive effort, although much of the heat fell on coach Mike Dunleavy for putting Ewing, a rookie, in that position.

No doubt it was a tough summer for Ewing, but now he's getting a chance to prove himself again.

With point guard Sam Cassell out, possibly for several weeks, with a case of plantar fasciitis in his foot, Shaun Livingston has been solid as a starter and Ewing's minutes have increased as his backup.

Ewing, a 23-year-old, 6-foot-3 guard, appeared in only three of the Clippers' first nine games, but Ewing had played two of his most solid games of the season entering Friday's game against Sacramento.

``In an 82-game season, you're going to get a chance to play,'' Dunleavy said when asked about Ewing this week. ``When you first get into the game, the most important thing is to play solid defense, move the basketball well, take good shots and don't hurt your team.''

Ewing has now played in 17 of the Clippers' past 20 games. In Tuesday's loss to Utah, he played 16 solid minutes and contributed three points, three rebounds and two assists and had just one turnover.

That was enough to inspire Dunleavy's confidence, and Wednesday against Boston, Ewing played a season-high 26 minutes and displayed confidence as he made three of his five shots from the field.

Bouncing back: It's been an up-and-down season so for forward Tim Thomas, who has the ability to carry the Clippers for long stretches when he is hot from the perimeter.

It seems though, that the Clippers never know quite what to expect from Thomas.

A week ago in Houston, Thomas made four of nine shots from 3-point range and had 21 points. Three nights later, in Utah, he went 3 of 10 from the field, scored nine points and fouled out after 30 minutes. So how did Thomas respond? On Wednesday, he totaled a season-high 25 points.

Hold onto it: It's not hard to see what drives the Clippers to success or failure. Entering Friday, they had an 8-3 record when recording fewer turnovers in a game than their opponents and a 3-12 record when they totaled more turnovers.

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