Miami’s pain is gain for Clippers

MIAMI — And the Clippers thought they had problems.

Things have been especially difficult for the Miami Heat, which learned Wednesday Coach Pat Riley would take an indefinite medical leave of absence because of ongoing hip and knee problems.

Riley, 61, revealed his plans during an afternoon news conference at AmericanAirlines Arena before a 110-95 loss to the Clippers in front of a sellout crowd of 19,600.

Elton Brand scored 28 points, Chris Kaman had 20 and Corey Maggette contributed 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 60.5% from the field and led by 29 points in the fourth quarter. Former UCLA standout Jason Kapono led Miami with 19 points.

Assistant Ron Rothstein coached the defending NBA champions Wednesday and will fill the top role on an interim basis while Riley, who also serves as Heat president, recovers from surgery scheduled Friday to remove floating chips in his right knee. Although there’s no timetable for his return to the sideline, Riley said he would remain connected with the Heat.

“I’m just tired of the pain and medication,” Riley said. “I’m going to have surgery on my knee on Friday, and then I’ll have to prepare myself a little bit more with the hip thing. I really don’t know how long it’s going to be ... but I’ll be very connected with the team.”

Also Wednesday, Riley essentially punished Antoine Walker and James Posey for failing to meet his conditioning mandate, deactivating the forwards before the game, and guard Dwyane Wade -- most valuable player of the NBA Finals -- missed his third consecutive game because of a sprained wrist. Center Shaquille O’Neal has been sidelined most of the season because of a knee injury, and the Heat (13-18), which dressed only 10 players, has lost four straight.

Moreover, Riley has expressed frustration recently about the work ethic of the veteran team apparently still basking in the glow of its title.

During the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Riley, who made sweeping roster changes before last season, acknowledged he had mellowed since his days leading the Lakers to four NBA championships in the 1980s. But Riley’s knee and hip conditions, the injuries to key players and the team’s poor performance took an emotional toll on him.

It seems the post-championship party is over in Miami, and there isn’t much to celebrate these days.

“What we are, right now, is an injured team,” said Riley, whose career record is 1,164-606 in stints with the Lakers, New York Knicks and Heat.

“Obviously, we aren’t the same team without Shaq and Dwyane. I haven’t been happy with how we’re playing. I haven’t been happy with how I’ve been coaching.

“I’m not happy with the situation, and I don’t think anybody is. I hope that when everybody gets healthy, including myself, it will rectify itself.”

The Clippers (15-17) seized an opportunity against the weakened Heat in improving to 1-1 on a six-game, 10-day trip that continues Friday against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.

“We came in and did what we had to do,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We caught a team that was really short-handed, obviously, and this was a game we’re supposed to win. I thought our guys played well.”

The Clippers received strong performances from point guards Shaun Livingston and Daniel Ewing. Livingston, in foul trouble early, finished with 12 points and nine assists. Ewing filled in well while Livingston played only nine minutes in the first half.

Ewing, in his second season, matched his career-high with 12 points on five-for-eight shooting. He also had five assists and five rebounds.

“He played a very good game in the role of making plays, shooting the ball, getting good shots and controlling tempo,” Dunleavy said. “I thought he gave us a big spark off the bench tonight.”

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