The Los Angeles Clippers announced Monday that center Zeljko Rebraca, who was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat following a game last week, will undergo a procedure Wednesday to help correct the condition.

After scoring four points and committing four fouls in 11 minutes of a 103-100 win over the Toronto Raptors last Wednesday, Rebraca was admitted to Centinela Hospital and released one day later when his heartbeat returned to a normal rhythm.

Rebraca will travel to Detroit and undergo an ablation of the accessory bypass tract at University of Michigan Hospital.

Dr. Fred Morady performed the same procedure on Rebraca in August 2003 after he missed 50 games for the Detroit Pistons during the 2002-03 campaign due to a recurring irregular heartbeat.

The 7-foot Rebraca has averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11 games off the bench for the Clippers (9-4), who lead the Pacific Division. He is expected to miss at least one month.

Clippers backup center Zeljko Rebraca, who has been sidelined because of an irregular heartbeat, received good news after undergoing several tests, including a normal EKG reading, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The news "was as good as it could be," coach Mike Dunleavy told the paper. "There may be some more tests they have to run, or whatever, but so far it seems like everything is progressing."

The team will still be cautious with Rebraca's recovery and return, Dunleavy said. No timetable has been established for activating him.

"I guess after the next couple of days the doctors will tell me something," Dunleavy told the paper. "When he's ready to play they will let me know."

Los Angeles Clippers center Zeljko Rebraca was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat following Wednesday's game against Toronto and is sidelined indefinitely.

After scoring four points and committing four fouls in 11 minutes of the 103-100 win over the Raptors, Rebraca was admitted to Centinela Hospital. He will remain hospitalized while undergoing further tests.

The 7-foot Rebraca has averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11 games off the bench for the Clippers (9-2), who are off to their best start in franchise history.

A second-round pick of the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994, Rebraca has averaged 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 197 games, including 20 starts, for Detroit, Atlanta and the Clippers.

After averaging a double-double and leading his team to a 3-0 record, Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand was named the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday.

Brand averaged 25 points and 11.7 rebounds while shooting 57 percent for the Clippers, who are off to a franchise-best 8-2 start.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 29.7 points on 55 percent shooting in leading the team to a 3-0 mark.

On Saturday, the third-year star registered his fifth career triple-double with 36 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high 10 assists in a 123-120 win over Philadelphia.

The Los Angeles Clippers are enjoying life in the NBA's high-rent district, and they expect to stay there for a while.

Elton Brand had 32 points and 10 rebounds, Corey Maggette scored 24 points and the Clippers beat Golden State 113-101 on Sunday to open up a 2?-game lead on the Warriors in the Pacific Division.

The Clippers improved to 8-2, the best start in the franchise's 36-year history, and pulled back into a tie with defending champion San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference.

"I know it's hard for teams to have chemistry so early, but I think our chemistry level has been good," Maggette said.

Cuttino Mobley had 22 points for Los Angeles and Sam Cassell added 14 points and 10 assists. The 8-2 start is the best 10-game stretch for the Clippers at any point of a season since 1978-79, when they were based in San Diego.

The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Clippers signed free-agent guard Howard Eisley on Thursday.

The 6-foot-2 Eisley has averaged 6.7 points, 3.6 assists and 1.7 rebounds in an 11-year NBA career and 5.2 points and 2.6 assists in 88 playoff games. He played in 74 games for the Utah Jazz last season, averaging 5.6 points, 3.4 assists and 19.3 minutes per game.

Eisley, who turns 33 next month, had his best season three years ago, averaging a career-high 9.1 points and 5.4 assists while playing 27.4 minutes per game for the New York Knicks.

Eisley was the 30th overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has played for Minnesota, San Antonio, Utah, Dallas, the Knicks and Phoenix in his career.

The Clippers (6-2) face the Los Angeles Lakers (4-4) on Friday night.

Asked how he felt about his role as sixth man, Corey Maggette made clear Monday during a post-practice interview that he didn't care for the question.

"I ain't no sixth man," he interrupted, emphatically.

Maggette, the Clippers' leading scorer the last two seasons, has come off the bench in each of the three games in which he has played since returning from a hamstring injury suffered during the preseason.

Coach Mike Dunleavy, on the advice of the team's medical staff, has been bringing the forward along slowly, increasing his playing time by a few minutes each game.

Point guard Shaun Livingston might be sidelined much longer than the Clippers initially announced, Coach Mike Dunleavy intimated Sunday.

"We're not going to take any chances with him," Dunleavy said before a 113-108 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.

When Livingston's back injury was revealed Oct. 23, the Clippers said the promising second-year player was expected to sit out two to four weeks.

Livingston's third MRI exam Thursday "showed substantial healing in the stressed area" of his back, according to a release, but team officials said they had no timetable for his return.

Trainer Jasen Powell has declined to speculate on when Livingston would resume basketball-related workouts.

"I've told them [team medical personnel] that whatever it takes, I want it to be right," Dunleavy said. "I want them to be really sure. I don't want any setbacks.

"I want it to be done the right way. It's a long-term commitment, and that's the right way to handle it. We'll deal with it."

The Los Angeles Clippers have their best start after six games in 20 years, but they are dreaming of an even better finish.

"We want to be one of the top teams in the West, and we think we are," Elton Brand said after the Clippers beat the winless Atlanta Hawks, 102-95, Thursday night.

Added new Clipper Sam Cassell: "The sky is the limit right now."

The Clippers lead the Pacific Division with a 5-1 record. It is their best start since 1985-86.

Asked if he was surprised by the strong start, Cassell said: "I've been saying it all year. It's not surprising me."

Several sources maintain the Nets have begun to investigate the possibility of landing another big man. It's still early, but the Nets should step up their pursuit after Nov. 15, when players signed this offseason as free agents can be traded.

Look for the Nets to renew their interest in free-agent-to-be Chris Wilcox of the Clippers.

"We're always exploring," GM Ed Stefanski said, "but we are not pursuing anybody at this time."