Last week, Heat coach Pat Riley said he hoped his team would do a lot of winning to keep him from having to make a difficult decision before today's 6 p.m. trade deadline.

Instead, Heat players gave Riley reason to mull changes with a nine-point fourth quarter and an ugly, rather inexcusable home loss to a Los Angeles Clippers team missing its two best players.

Wednesday's 81-71 defeat dropped the Heat 5 ? games behind Philadelphia and Charlotte (who are tied for eighth in the East), and reinforced the notion this team is too unreliable to make a serious playoff push with 30 games left.

''It's very, very disappointing with Elton Brand and Lamar Odom out [with injuries],'' Riley said. ``Their effort was so much better than ours. They came in and kicked out [butt] just like Atlanta did. We would have to go 26-5 to get back in it quick, and that's unrealistic. We have to keep pecking away.''

The Heat (21-31) couldn't overcome Eddie Jones' worst game in a while. Jones (11 points) made eight of nine free throws but shot 1 for 13 from the field, including 0 for 5 in the fourth quarter.

''I let my teammates down,'' Jones said. ``My responsibility is to put points on the board. I didn't do it.''

Meanwhile, Clippers guard Quentin Richardson, one of the NBA's most improved players, produced 25 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

''He dominated the game,'' said Riley, whose team dropped to 10-15 at home.

After winning 10 of 12, the Heat has gone 3-3, including troubling home losses to Atlanta and the Clippers and a decisive setback at Minnesota.

Two nights after shooting a season-high 55.7 percent against Chicago, Miami shot 32.9 percent, including 6.7 percent (1 for 15) from three-point range.

''We have that in us or we wouldn't be 10 under .500,'' Riley said.

The Clippers outscored Miami 13-9 in the fourth, with the Heat shooting 4 for 20 from the field and 0 for 7 on threes.

After closing to within 69-67 with 9:34 left in the fourth, the Heat went 5:58 without scoring as the Clippers ran off eight straight points.

''They were relentless,'' said forward Brian Grant (two points, 13 rebounds). ``We knew that was going to happen and didn't do anything about it. They beat us with energy.''

The Heat, which had scored at least 100 in five of its past 17 games, posted its lowest point total since a 95-56 home loss to Utah on Dec. 18.

The Clippers went ahead for good with a 17-2 second-quarter run that turned an eight-point deficit into a seven-point lead.

''Tonight was attributable to them outworking us,'' said Heat center Alonzo Mourning, who had 17 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks. ``I recall plenty of plays where I got my butt kicked. It's uncalled for, and there's no reason for it. I'm just worried about how we're playing.''

Power forward Harold Jamison, cut by the Heat during last season's training camp, hurt Miami with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Clippers outrebounded the Heat 55-45 and outscored Miami 40-22 in the paint.

Jones opened 0 for 6 and hit his only field goal, a three-pointer, with 3:22 left in the third quarter. ``I thought I had a lot of open looks but missed them.''

Rod Strickland led Miami with 19 points. Kendall Gill (2 for 9) and Eddie House (2 for 8) missed their last six shots.

Riley suggested the loss would not necessarily make him more inclined to make a trade.

''We have what we have,'' he said. ``Do we have enough outside shooters? I feel we do with House . . . Jim Jackson . . . LaPhonso Ellis. Is there a sticker in the NBA we could get who could do other things? I don't know.''