ROOKIE ANSWERS SNUB NBA: THORNTON, NOT PICKED FOR SOPH/ROOKIE GAME, SCORES 33 IN WIN. CLIPPERS 95, ATLANTA 88.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer On the day he learned he was snubbed from the NBA's rookie team for All-Star weekend, AlThornton went out and showed why he deserves to be on the squad. Thornton scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Clippers past the Atlanta Hawks 95-88 Wednesday night at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . The Clippers looked destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. to cruise to a blowout victory when they were ahead 89-69 with 6:09 to play. But Atlanta went on a 19-2 run to pull to within 91-88 with 46.6seconds left. Atlanta even had a possession with a chance to tie the score with a 3-pointer, but Thornton came up with a block on a layup attempt by Acie Law with 14.9seconds left to help preserve the Clippers' victory. Thornton missed Tuesday's practice because of a stomach virus and was questionable for Wednesday's game. "I felt dehydrated de·hy·drate v. de·hy·drat·ed, de·hy·drat·ing, de·hy·drates v.tr. 1. To remove water from; make anhydrous. 2. To preserve by removing water from (vegetables, for example). ," said Thornton, a native of Perry, Ga. "I was hurt out there, but I tried to gut it out. ... I was pretty much throwing up all day (Tuesday). I don't think it was the flu. I think it was something I ate." Thornton made 13 of 20 field goals. To put his 13 made baskets in perspective, veteran Clipper Corey Maggette's career high in field goals is 12. "I sure am glad they left Al off the rookie team," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy Mike Dunleavy is the name of two notable persons in basketball, father and son:
Even though Maggette and Chris Kaman Christopher Zane Kaman (born April 28 1982, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. Kaman stands seven feet tall (213 cm) and weighs 265 pounds (120 kg). each missed a second consecutive game because of "flu-like symptoms," Thornton's performance picked up the slack. But the Clippers will certainly need them, now that they are embarking on a season-long seven-game trip. With Maggette apparently in worse condition Wednesday, will he and Kaman be healthy enough to leave with the team today? "I haven't asked that question yet," Dunleavy said. "I'm afraid to." Thornton's two big scoring flurries came in the second and third quarters, when he scored 12points in each period. In the second quarter, he scored nine straight points on several highlight-reel plays. He made a 3-pointer, a 22-foot jumper and then scored on two layups to put the Clippers up 44-37, their biggest lead of the first half. "You tell me another rookie in this game that you can throw the ball to like that and he's going to score that many points," Clippers guard Sam Cassell Samuel (Sam) James Cassell (born November 18, 1969 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays point guard for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. said. "And it's not the first time he did it. So, hopefully, the league will make an exception, and he should on the rookie All-Star team -- by far." The only rookie who has approached Thornton's top games is Seattle's Kevin Durant Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988 in Washington, D.C.[6][7]) is a 6'9" basketball player for the Seattle SuperSonics, picked second in the 2007 NBA Draft from the University of Texas. , who has scored 35 points twice this season. Thornton's 33 points were the most by a Clipper rookie since Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. scored 33 in the final game of his rookie season in 2000. Terry Cummings Robert Terrell "Terry" Cummings (born March 15 1961 in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association for 18 seasons as a power forward and occasional center. and Tom Chambers
Thomas Doane Chambers (born June 21, 1959 in Ogden, Utah) is an American former star NBA professional basketball player at the power share the franchise scoring record in one game with 39points, and it looked like Thornton had a good shot at that. But after scoring five quick points in the fourth quarter, he didn't score in the final 10:52. "Hopefully, this will carry over and give us some momentum on the road," Thornton said. "Hopefully, this will have a snowball effect." joe.stevens@presstelegram.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Clippers' Al Thornton soars past Atlanta's Josh Smith for two of his 33 points Wednesday. Noah Graham/Getty Images |
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