Shaq's Injury Takes Him Back to Los Angeles

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal has left his team to seek medical care in Los Angeles. (AP Images)

Shaquille O'Neal is heading back to Los Angeles. No, not to play for the Lakers. But to get some much-needed medical help after missing five straight games with a bad hip. (You know you're getting old when...)

"This morning he's on a flight to Los Angeles where we're going to go another route with his hip injury," Miami Heat coach Pat Riley told host radio host Sid Rosenberg. "We just want to get him right. If we can get him right . . . he's down to 321 pounds. He's doing everything that he can do to get healthy. This is killing him."

O'Neal is averaging 14 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks this season.

For more on Shaq, read: NBA Betting: The Big Burn