Pitino Needs to Get Away After Celtics Lose to Heat

Rick Pitino needed a day off after the latest loss by the Boston Celtics, their fifth in a row. His hiatus might not end after 24 hours.

Pitino, frustrated by his team’s lackluster play, decided to leave the Celtics for at least one day after their 112-86 loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday night at Miami.

While the Celtics planned to fly home Saturday night, Pitino said he would stay in Miami with his wife to do some “soul searching.”

“No, I have not resigned, but I am going to take a day off [today],” Pitino said. “It has been a while since I remember having a day off. My wife is coming down and we are going to spend the day together and I’m going to do a little thinking.

“It’s safe to say that I will have a decision after the day off.”

The Providence Journal-Bulletin, citing an unidentified source close to Pitino, reported that the coach had reached a settlement deal with the team and would announce his resignation Monday. Assistant Jim O’Brien would take over the team, the paper said.

Boston plays host to the Portland Trail Blazers Monday.

Pitino is the second coach to take a leave of absence from his team this season. Larry Brown left the Philadelphia 76ers for two days last month before returning.

Pitino has said since late last season, his third consecutive losing season, that 2000-01 would be his last in Boston if he doesn’t see improvement.

The Celtics have lost 11 of 14 and have given up 100 or more points in nine of those games, eight of them losses. Pitino is 102-146 in 3 1/2 seasons in Boston.

“What I’m looking for is defensive improvement, but you can see by the way they scored tonight that it’s not there,” Pitino said. “The effort is there, but the defensive improvement isn’t.”

Last week, Pitino revealed that he put his Boston townhouse up for sale, although he said his decision to sell had nothing to do with the Celtics. He said his family didn’t need as big a house with his son, Richard, leaving for college next year.

Pat Riley said he hopes Pitino sticks around.

“If he decides to leave, there is not a coach in the NBA who cares more and puts more into the game than he does,” the Heat coach said. “He developed a first-class organization up there. The players get everything they want and need.

“If, in fact, it does happen, I think it is a shame because he is a credit to the game.”

Tim Hardaway had 24 points and 10 assists in Miami’s biggest offensive output of the season.

New Jersey 97, Golden State 92--Keith Van Horn scored 19 points for the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J., in his first game since suffering a broken left leg in October.

Van Horn, who suffered the injury in an exhibition game against Orlando, made eight of 16 shots and had five rebounds in 24 minutes before fouling out with 40.9 seconds remaining.

Atlanta 83, Orlando 82--Lorenzen Wright scored 22 points and Dikembe Mutombo pulled down 24 rebounds at Atlanta as the Hawks ended a five-game losing streak to the Magic.

Tracy McGrady, who had a game-high 30 points, missed a 16-footer that would have won the game at the buzzer.

Utah 99, Houston 97--Donyell Marshall scored 20 points and the Jazz used a big second-half run at Houston to end a five-game losing streak.

Trailing, 72-71, with 1:13 to play in the third quarter, the Jazz went on a 25-8 run to take a 16-point lead with 5:48 remaining. Marshall and Jacque Vaughn each had six points in the run.

San Antonio 108, Detroit 101--David Robinson had 29 points and 22 rebounds, both season highs, to lead the Spurs at San Antonio.

Dallas 103, Washington 85--Dirk Nowitzki, held without a shot or point in the first 14 minutes, led the Mavericks with 28 points at Washington.