Kaman ready to face O’Neal

The chasm between the centers may be closing.

Chris Kaman receives another test today, in the form of Shaquille O’Neal.

The 7-foot Kaman is statistically outperforming the 7-1 Miami Heat center this season, averaging 18.8 points and 13.8 rebounds to O’Neal’s 14.9 and 7.8.

But it is a matchup that has not traditionally favored Kaman, who has gotten into early foul trouble against O’Neal in the past.

“You’ve got to play real physical,” Kaman said. “It’s kind of like a Yao Ming matchup. You play the best you can, but it’s still going to be difficult. You still need help. He’s just too big.”

O’Neal missed both of the teams’ matchups last season while recovering from knee surgery, but two seasons ago he scored 25 points in a game, while Kaman had four. And the season before, O’Neal outscored Kaman, 39-9.

But there might be a change in the wind.

O’Neal recently griped to Miami reporters that he is not being used efficiently in Coach Pat Riley’s offense.

And it is Kaman who has been the consistent factor in the middle for his team this season.

“He’s played well against all comers so far, so hopefully he continues to play the way he’s been playing,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

Still, Kaman said he expects O’Neal to be a load.

“It’s never enjoyable,” he said. “He’s huge. Even as old as he is, he is still pretty good. You’ve got to try to keep him away from the basket as much as possible and any time he gets it low, if you have fouls to give, you try and foul him, or else he’s going to dunk on your head.”

And is there any way to specially prepare for O’Neal?

“Eat a lot of food,” Kaman joked. “Get yourself some extra weight for the game.”

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With Friday’s victory over the Sacramento Kings, Dunleavy became the Clippers’ all-time franchise leader in coaching wins, surpassing Jack Ramsay with 159.

“It’s a great honor to have been there this long in order to accomplish that,” Dunleavy said. “Hopefully, there are a lot more wins to follow.”

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Yaroslav Korolev, the Clippers’ lottery selection in 2005 who was waived before the season started, signed with Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Super League.

TODAY

vs. Miami, 12:30 p.m., Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Clippers 7-11, Heat 4-15.

Record vs. Heat (2006-07) -- 2-0.

Update -- The Heat is struggling out of the gates and is on a five-game losing streak. Dwyane Wade is averaging 21.2 points and 6.1 assists in 12 games.

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com