Suns fire head coach Watson
The Phoenix Suns fired coach Earl Watson just three games into the NBA season.
The Suns announced the firing Sunday night after hours of meetings at the team’s headquarters.
Assistant coach Jay Triano, a former head coach of the Raptors, was named interim head coach. Triano was an assistant at Portland before coming to Phoenix last year.
Watson was promoted from assistant to interim head coach of the Suns after Jeff Hornacek was fired Feb. 1, 2016. The interim tag was removed April 19 of that year. With an extremely young team, the Suns struggled under Watson. He compiled a 33-85 record. Watson’s only full season was 2016-17, when the team went 24-58.
Owner Robert Sarver apparently didn’t like what he saw. Phoenix is 0-3 and two of the losses were by more than 40 points.
Sunday’s games
TimberwolvesAndrew halfcourt from Wigginsas timea few 115, banked expiredsteps Thunderin insideto a give threepointer113: Minnesota City. a The victory Thunder’sover host Carmelo Oklahoma Anthony hit a three with 5.1 seconds left to give the Thunder the lead before the Timberwolves inbounded to Wiggins, who rushed up the court and got free with help from a crushing pick by Karl-Anthony Towns before pulling up for the winner. Pelicans 119, Lakers 112: Anthony Davis scored 27 points, DeMarcus Cousins had 20 and New Orleans withstood a rally to beat host Los Angeles for its first victory of the season. The Pelicans led by 22 points in the second quarter and were still up by double figures heading into the final period, but the Lakers made a charge to take the lead.
Nets Allen DeMarrebeat visiting116, Crabbe Carroll Hawks Atlanta.scoredhad 104:17 20 The andCal points,Nets alum Brooklynonce again Jeremy foundLin, whoa way was to lost win for withoutthe season on opening night with a knee injury. Crabbe, who started the second game of the season but came off the bench against Atlanta as Caris LeVert got the nod at shooting guard, hit two three-pointers during a 7-0 run to put the Nets back up 106-99 with 3:47 to go.
Around the league
Milos Teodosic has a plantarfascia injury in his left foot and the Clippers say he will be out indefinitely. A guard on the Serbian national team, Teodosic was hurt during the second quarter of Los Angeles’ romp over Phoenix on Saturday.
Nelson,The Pelicans35, and waivedsigned guard Jordan Jameer Crawford. New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry said the team was uncertain if Nelson would be worked into the starting lineup alongside Jrue Holiday, or back him at the point. Nelson was waived by the Nuggets last week.