Riley, Brown retreat from previous comments.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

PHILADELPHIA _ It has been great theater: Two of the league's most respected coaches sniping as their teams fight for playoff position.

But Pat Riley and Larry Brown closed the show Wednesday.

"I don't want to get into a peeing contest that I started," Riley said. "I think owner Pat Croce, and Larry, and general manager Billy King have really done an incredible job with this organization. They are carrying a big bat in the Eastern Conference. They are kicking everybody's butt. I was going through a week, as they were, of this fine line between loyalty and winning."

Friday, Riley questioned the 76ers' loyalty after they traded the injured Theo …