LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Whenever the Los Angeles Clippers think they

have everything figured out, coach Mike Dunleavy is there to remind

them they don't. If that doesn't work, there are always hungry

teams like the Toronto Raptors to give them a reality check.

Corey Maggette scored 30 points Wednesday night and Sam Cassell

had 10 of his 26 in the fourth quarter for the Clippers, who didn't

take their first lead until less than 2½ minutes remained in their

103-100 victory over the Raptors.

"I'm optimistic about how we've played, and I was optimistic

all summer long about our abilities and our potential. But we

haven't played any of the elite teams," Dunleavy said. "We

haven't played Detroit yet. We haven't played San Antonio. So that

tempers where we are.

"When you come head-to-head with those kind of teams and beat

them, then you get the feeling that you can take yourself up a

couple of notches on the totem pole. Right now, I think we're a

team that can make the playoffs if we stay healthy and continue to

play the type of basketball we're playing."

The Pacific Division-leading Clippers are off to the best start

in the franchise's 36-year history at 9-2 and have matched the team

high for most wins in November, set last season (9-6). Their 5-0

start at home also tied a club mark. The only other time they won

their first five home games was 1983-84, their final season in San

Diego.

Brand, who was named Western Conference player of the week on

Monday, had 21 points and 13 rebounds. He is the only player among

the league's top 10 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage

and blocked shots per game.

Chris Bosh scored 24 points for the Raptors, who have lost 11 of

their first 12 games. The third-year forward, who had a career-high

23 field goal attempts in Tuesday's 90-82 loss at Phoenix, was

7-for-16 against the Clippers and finished with nine rebounds.

Rookie Charlie Villanueva scored 18 points off the bench, but

Jalen Rose missed his first eight shots and was 1-for-12 with six

points.

"It's frustrating to lose the ballgame, especially when we're

giving a valiant effort," Rose said. "It's doubly frustrating

because of the way I've been playing. The guys are doing what they

can to help us win ballgames, and they need me to step up and play

the way I'm capable of playing."

Trailing by as many as 12 late in the first half, the Clippers

didn't take their first lead until Brand's 17-foot jumper with 2:17

to play. Bosh made one of two free throws, and the Raptors pulled

ahead 99-98 on a short running jumper by Mike James with 1:26 left

after an offensive foul by Clippers center Chris Kaman.

The Clippers regained the lead 14 seconds later on Kaman's hook

shot. Matt Bonner missed a 3-point attempt from the right corner

but Maggette's try for a clinching layup rolled in and out of the

cylinder. The Raptors rebounded and called timeout to set up a

play, but Morris Peterson missed another 3-point try with 8 seconds

on the clock and Maggette iced it with two free throws.

"They got aggressive and we didn't match their intensity

level," James said.

Cassell scored 10 straight Clippers points in a 2:56 span to

keep Los Angeles within striking distance, and Maggette's 3-pointer

tied it 96-all with 3:02 remaining.

"Last year we definitely lose this game -- a close, tough

game," Brand said after the Clippers' fourth straight victory.

"But bringing in a guy like Sam Cassell who controls the clock in

late-game situations helps us. He gets the ball where it needs to

go."Game notes
The Clippers' turnaround couldn't have come at a better

time for Dunleavy, who is in the third year of a three-year

contract that includes a club option for next season. "I'm not

worried about the club talking to me about an extension," Dunleavy

said. "I'd love to be here. Heck, I'd like to be here the next 10

years, but it's not my call. I mean, I came here because I wanted

to be here. I've got this year, my option year is next year, and I

would assume they're going to pick it up, but that's their call.

We'll see what happens." ... Shaun Livingston, who hasn't played

this season because of a lower back problem, is scheduled to

undergo an MRI exam next week to determine whether he'll get

clearance to start practicing. ... Quinton Ross played 19 scoreless

minutes after missing the Clippers' previous two games because of

back spasms.