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LOS ANGELES - Portland forward Darius Miles was sent home early after changing into his street clothes at halftime of Wednesday night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The team did not characterize the move as a suspension, but said Thursday that unspecified disciplinary action was taken. The Blazers played the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night before returning to Portland.

"It's just a decision that the organization and I talked about, and we felt it was best right now to discuss that issue tomorrow when we get back to Portland and decide where we want to go for the remainder of the season," coach Nate McMillan said.

"The decision we made was basically a message to our entire team - that even though we're at the end of the season, those rules will be in place. We've got to work in the best interests of the team."

Miles did not play in the first half of the Blazers' 97-93 loss to the Clippers, which dropped the Trail Blazers to a league-worst 21-57. The six-year veteran, whom the Clippers drafted out of high school in June 2000, was seen on the bench in a suit for the second half of the game against his former team. Miles did not have McMillan's permission to change.

"That's not what basketball players do. We just won't allow that," McMillan said. "The decision to send him home has been made, and that's behind us now."

Looking toward next season, McMillan has been giving extra minutes to younger players such as Sebastian Telfair, Jarrett Jack, Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster.

"We've communicated all season long," McMillan said when asked if he and Miles had clashed earlier this season. "My plan this year was to make Darius and Zach Randolph better because they're the core of our team. So there's been a lot of communication between the three of us in terms of the direction that we want to go and what we need to do to get there.

"They are in different roles than last year, and sometimes it takes you more than a year or two to figure out exactly what you need to do - especially when you are the core of the organization," McMillan added. "And that takes a serious commitment and a lot sacrifice to be that type of players that are carrying a franchise."

Miles' status is unknown for Saturday night's game against Golden State at the Rose Garden.

"I'm disappointed to hear that because he's my friend," said Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who was Miles' teammate for two seasons with the Clippers. "Sometimes, we tend to do things at the spur of the moment that we wish we could take back because it hurts our image. But I'm pretty sure he was just a little upset emotionally because they were playing the Clippers."

Miles is averaging 14.1 points this season in 39 games. He sat out 34 games because of cartilage damage in his right knee.

"He's not (going to be) traded," McMillan said. "My thing is to continue to work with him so that he can help this team win. So, yes, I expect him to be back next year."

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index