Heat coach Riley takes leave of absence

Miami Heat coach and president Pat Riley has taken indefinite leave of absence to deal with persistent hip and knee problems. Assistant Ron Rothstein will assume head coaching duties on an interim basis while Riley receives treatment on his painful...

Miami Heat coach and president Pat Riley has taken indefinite leave of absence to deal with persistent hip and knee problems.

Assistant Ron Rothstein will assume head coaching duties on an interim basis while Riley receives treatment on his painful right knee and left hip, the team said on its website.

Riley, who guided the Heat to the NBA championship in June, is scheduled to undergo knee surgery today.

The 61-year-old coach is also likely to have a hip replacement soon after, according to the Sun-Sentinel newspaper.

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