Nets Fire Coach

NEW YORK (AP) — Coach of the month in November, out of a job by New Year's.

The Nets have elevated expectations this season, and a .500 record isn't good enough. Coach Avery Johnson has been fired. His team lost 10 of 13 games after a strong start to its first season in Brooklyn and is 14-14 overall.

Johnson was 60-116 in two-plus seasons with the Nets.

Assistant P.J. Carlesimo will coach the Nets on an interim basis, starting tonight with a home game against Charlotte. General manager Billy King says the Nets might reach out to other candidates, but for now the job is Carlesimo's. The GM wouldn't comment on a report that the team planned to get in touch with former Lakers coach Phil Jackson.