Wallace won’t be a concern today

It seems that the struggling Clippers are in need of a boost, and the NBA might have provided them with some assistance, suspending Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace for today’s game at Staples Center.

Wallace received a one-game suspension for receiving his 16th technical foul of the season in Friday’s 95-82 victory over the Nuggets at Denver. Wallace is averaging 12.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots.

Under league rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended for one game after being assessed his 16th technical foul. Every other technical foul after the 16th also results in a one-game suspension.

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The Clippers are considered among the biggest disappointments in the NBA, but the team could have success in the postseason, Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

“Because of the type of team we have, because we can match up with a lot of teams and play different styles, I know we could” be competitive in the playoffs, Dunleavy said. “We’ve played well in spurts. I know we have the ability to do it; we just have to get there.”

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Guard Daniel Ewing has struggled to run the offense, but the second-year player has played well at times when he’s not the primary ballhandler.

Ewing could benefit from Jason Hart’s emerging as the new starting point guard, focusing on scoring only instead of other responsibilities within the offense.

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TODAY

vs. Detroit, noon

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 29-32, Pistons 38-22.

Record vs. Pistons -- 0-1.

Update -- Sam Cassell, who sat out three games because of a groin injury, returned to the lineup in Friday’s 99-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Cassell played only five minutes and missed his three field-goal attempts. The Pistons have the best overall and road records in the Eastern Conference. Guard Richard Hamilton is averaging a team-leading 21 points.

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