Clippers get rough in loss

BOSTON -- The Clippers had no answers for the Boston Celtics’ backup plan, especially after Sam Cassell’s ejection.

A night after losing by one point in overtime to Cleveland, the Celtics’ starters sat out all but the final 49 seconds of the fourth quarter in a 111-100 victory Wednesday night.

The starters returned when the Clippers got within seven points, 107-100, but Rajon Rondo made two free throws to give him a career-high 24 points and Tony Allen made two more with four seconds left for the Celtics, playing without Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain) for the fifth straight game. Paul Pierce was also recovering from flu.

“I was really trying to squeeze the game out of the bench today,” Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said. “I was really happy we could go that long with the bench in the fourth quarter.”

Rondo also had eight assists and five rebounds, returning from a bloody nose and Cassell’s flagrant foul that knocked him to the floor. Ray Allen scored 19 points and Pierce had 15 for Boston.

“Toward the end, they had their second-stringers in there and we still had problems,” said Clippers center Chris Kaman, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots. “I mean, Rondo had 18 points in the first half and I don’t know what he averages, but I know it’s not that.”

Rondo was dominating Cassell -- especially in the second quarter, when the Boston point guard scored 12 points. He stole the ball twice in 60 seconds, and that might have been going through Cassell’s mind when Rondo drove with 2:54 left in the first half.

Cassell came in from the side and raked his forearm across Rondo’s face, knocking him to the floor. Cassell was called for a flagrant foul, and after reviewing the videotape the officials ejected him.

It was an odd move for a player quoted in Wednesday’s Boston Globe practically begging for a contract buyout so he could join the Celtics.

The Clippers were already without Tim Thomas (back).

“It was a tough game for us. We lose Tim Thomas and then we lose Cassell,” said Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy, who returned after missing Tuesday’s game at New York because of flu. “We got it back to three to start the fourth, and then we made some mistakes.”

Cassell did not comment.

“It was a frustration foul,” said Corey Maggette, who had 33 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers. “He’s played too long in this league and there is no way he wanted to hurt him.”

Rondo already had cotton stuffed in his right nostril to stop it from bleeding from contact on an earlier play. But he didn’t show any ill effects.

“I got hit pretty hard, but it’s part of the game,” Rondo said.