Dunleavy Takes Leave of Absence

Coach Mike Dunleavy, taking an indefinite leave of absence from the Clippers, has traveled to New York to be at the side of his ailing father.

Longtime assistant Jim Eyen will lead the team while Dunleavy is away, starting tonight against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. The Clippers, mathematically eliminated from the playoff race, have five games remaining. They play again Friday at Phoenix and finish the season April 20 at New Orleans.

“It’s a situation where he needs to be there,” Eyen said of Dunleavy, “and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family and his father.”

Eyen, 49, said Monday that he had not guided a team for an entire game since he coached at Dos Pueblos High in Goleta more than 20 years ago. He joked, however, that he had taken over “a number of times” after Dunleavy was ejected, most recently for the last 37 seconds of Wednesday’s 91-82 loss at San Antonio.

“As an assistant, you see the same things you would sitting in the other chair,” said Eyen, a former UC Santa Barbara player who also was an assistant under Dunleavy with the Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers. “The biggest difference is that your suggestions are now your decisions. But the game’s the game and adjustments you make as you see fit ...

“I’ve been coaching a long time, and the comfort level is there.”

Dunleavy’s son, forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. of the Golden State Warriors, told reporters Monday night in Denver that his grandfather, also named Michael, was scheduled for surgery but offered no details.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Utah, 7:30

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 34-43, Jazz 24-52.

Record vs. Jazz -- 1-2.

Update -- Bobby Simmons is expected to return for the Clippers after sitting out seven games because of a bruised left shin. Corey Maggette, listed as questionable, was scheduled to have his sprained left wrist examined Monday by a specialist. The Clippers outshot the San Antonio Spurs, 58% to 41%, in Saturday’s 125-124 double-overtime loss but had 22 turnovers to only nine for the Spurs, who as a result had 21 more shots.

Tickets -- (800) 462-2849.