NBA

Reeling Cavs fire coach

By wire services
Published March 22, 2005

CLEVELAND - Paul Silas was hired to mentor the league's next superstar. Though he succeeded with LeBron James, his failure with the rest of the team cost him his job.

Silas was fired as coach of the Cavaliers on Monday, his team fighting for a playoff spot after leading its division earlier this season. Longtime assistant Brendan Malone was appointed interim coach.

The dismissal came with 18 games left and the team clinging to the fifth playoff spot in the East. James seems to have been the only player who saw the move coming.

"You could kind of tell the way the air was, how things were going around here, there was going to have to be a change," said James, who scored a franchise-record 56 Sunday. "I didn't know it was going to be this soon."

Silas' son, assistant Stephen Silas, also was fired.

Duncan's season over?

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Tim Duncan will be sidelined at least two weeks because of a sprained right ankle and could miss the rest of the regular season.

The Spurs placed the two-time MVP on the injured list after an MRI exam. He flew home to San Antonio on Sunday to begin treatment. Forward-center Sean Marks was activated from the injured list to fill the roster spot.

Duncan, the Spurs' leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, crumpled to the floor in the opening minutes of a 110-101 loss to Detroit on Sunday after scoring inside and coming down on Rasheed Wallace's foot.

IVERSON EXPECTS PENALTY: Allen Iverson said the league has contacted him regarding his allegation that a referee made inappropriate comments to him during a heated exchange after the 76ers' loss to the Bulls.

He also said he expected to be fined or suspended because he started the argument.

Iverson, upset about calls, challenged referee Marc Davis after the 94-88 loss Saturday and said Davis responded by saying he would "whup my a--."

LAKERS: Forward Lamar Odom was diagnosed with a small tear and a rotator cuff contusion in his left shoulder. Odom is day to day.

SONICS: Guard Ray Allen's sprained right ankle forced him to miss practice, and his return will be a game-time decision tonight against Milwaukee.

WNBA: After ending last season early because of depression, Chamique Holdsclaw received a fresh start when she was traded from the Washington Mystics to the Los Angeles Sparks for former UF standout DeLisha Milton-Jones and the 13th pick in this year's draft.

Monday's games

BOBCATS 102, MAGIC 97: Brevin Knight hit a running jumper with 12.4 seconds left to help host Charlotte break its 10-game losing streak.

Grant Hill scored 25 for Orlando, which dropped a half-game behind Philadelphia for the East's eighth and final playoff spot.

After helping the Bobcats climb out of a 16-point hole to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter, Knight had to help them squeak out the victory while playing with five fouls.

Charlotte led 97-95 after Hill made two free throws with 31 seconds left. The Bobcats called timeout to draw a play for Knight, who dribbled at the top of the key while the clock ticked away.

He then beat Jameer Nelson off the dribble and scored over 6-foot-11 Dwight Howard, no easy task for the 5-10 Knight. Nelson was called for a foul and Knight made the free throw for a 100-95 lead with 12.4 seconds left.

KNICKS 88, SPURS 75: Malik Rose sank two 18-foot jumpers to complete host New York's 14-0 run to start the fourth quarter, getting a measure of revenge against the team that traded him.

BULLS 105, HAWKS 91: Eddy Curry scored 24 in his return to the lineup and Ben Gordon added 17 for host Chicago. Curry had missed three games with a strained left hamstring.

MAVS 103, HORNETS 86: Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and eight rebounds and rookie Devin Harris added a season-high 17 points for host Dallas in Avery Johnson's second game as coach.

[Last modified March 22, 2005, 01:22:12]