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Thornton, Clippers ease by Suns

Oct 21, 2007 - 2:48 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Rookie Al Thornton looks to have a major role with his club this year.

Thornton scored 23 points as the Los Angeles Clippers posted a 110-103 preseason victory over the Phoenix Suns Saturday night.

Corey Maggette scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Dan Dickau scored 13 points for the Clippers, who improved their record to 2-3 in exhibition play.

The win was payback for a 118-97 defeat the Clippers suffered to the Suns on Friday.

Thornton, who was selected 14th overall in the draft, came off the bench to score 16 points in the first half. The 6-8, 220-pound forward will have to give the Clippers solid minutes early on until Elton Brand recovers fully from an achilles injury that he sustained over the summer.

The rookie out of Florida State, Thornton connected on 8-of-14 from the floor, helped the Clippers take the lead late in the first quarter and stretch the bulge to 16 points at the half.

The Clippers shot 50 percent (37-of-74) while holding the Suns to 41 percent (35-of-86).

Grant Hill scored 17 points and Leandro Barbosa added 16 off the bench for Phoenix, which outscored the Clippers, 28-17, in the final quarter to make it close at the finish.