EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Two trips to the title series, a first-place perch in the Atlantic Division and a recent coach of the month award weren't enough to save Byron Scott's job.
Scott was fired as Nets coach Monday by team president Rod Thorn, who was unhappy with the team's performance over the first half of the season. The two-time defending Eastern Conference champions are 22-20 after losing five of six games.
Scott, 42, was replaced by Lawrence Frank, a 33-year-old assistant whose promotion comes with an "interim" label for the rest of this season - though Thorn made it clear that Frank will keep the job if the team performs well.
The Nets also hired Brian Hill as an assistant.
"Sometimes change or a different voice is good, and in this case with Coach Frank we all feel confident," guard Jason Kidd said.
Scott holds the franchise record with 149 wins.
Also, the Nets signed veteran guard Hubert Davis to a 10-day contract and waived backup point guard Robert Pack.
HORNETS: Guard Tierre Brown, who has been playing in the National Basketball Development League, signed a 10-day contract.
LAKERS: Shaquille O'Neal almost surely won't play Wednesday against Seattle, making it 13 games he will have missed since straining his right calf Jan.2. The center did a little shooting in practice but didn't last long in running drills while wearing a rubber sleeve on his right calf.
PACERS: Forward Ron Artest missed practice to fly to New York for an examination of his injured left thumb. He hurt the thumb on his nonshooting hand Jan.17 at New Jersey.
WIZARDS: Forward Torraye Braggs signed a second 10-day contract.
DIVAC SKIPPING OLYMPICS: Kings center Vlade Divac will not play for Serbia-Montenegro at the Athens Olympics, saying he is no longer the best big man on the national team.
Rookie LeBron James scored 16 in his first game back from a sprained ankle and Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 16 rebounds to help Cleveland withstand McGrady's shooting barrage for a 99-98 victory over the Magic.
McGrady tied a league record with eight 3-pointers in the first half, but Orlando's star guard played just five minutes after halftime because of a toe injury.
McGrady decided not to risk hurting his toe worse, and benched himself with 6:32 left in the third quarter.
"I know myself," said McGrady, who scored 34 of his 36 points in the first half. "I made the decision myself. It's pretty disappointing. First, you have the LeBron-T.Mac matchup everyone is hyped to see. It was frustrating."
Orlando stayed with Cleveland in the second half and still had a chance to win after Cavs forward Eric Williams missed two free throws with 7.5 seconds left. But Rod Strickland shot an air ball just before the horn sounded.
Also, the Cavs activated guard J.R. Bremer and placed center Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (ankle sprain) on the injured list.
HEAT 95, ROCKETS 81: Thanks to one of Miami's best offensive efforts of the season, Stan Van Gundy pulled even in the first-year coaching rivalry with his younger brother. Eddie Jones scored 27 and Van Gundy's Heat shot 51 percent to beat coach Jeff Van Gundy and visiting Houston. Jeff won the only other showdown between the siblings Nov.11.
TRAIL BLAZERS 94, WIZARDS 83: Damon Stoudamire hit six 3-pointers, accounting for all 18 of his points, and added a season-high 11 assists for visiting Portland. Juan Dixon, starting because of an injury to Larry Hughes, scored a career-high 30 for Washington.
BUCKS 93, SPURS 92: Tim Duncan had an apparent winning dunk as time expired waived off after officials reviewed the play, giving host Milwaukee the win. Replays showed Duncan still had the ball in his hand when the light atop the backboard lit up. Michael Redd scored 21 including the winning basket, a drive over Duncan with 21.9 seconds left.
JAZZ 98, CLIPPERS 93: Carlos Arroyo scored 20 and Greg Ostertag had a season-high 18 to help host Utah snap a five-game losing streak. Andrei Kirilenko returned from a sprained right ankle to score 13 for Utah, which dressed nine players.
TIMBERWOLVES 97, NUGGETS 95: Kevin Garnett had 31 points and 13 rebounds, and Latrell Sprewell tipped in a shot with 16 seconds left to lead visiting Minnesota. Andre Miller had a triple double for Denver with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Also, the Timberwolves released guard Anthony Goldwire after two 10-day contracts. In five games he averaged 2.6 points and 2.0 assists in 13.2 minutes.
