Bucks fire Griffin 43 games into first year; Rivers next coach?

The Bucks fired Adrian Griffin as coach on Tuesday after just 43 games despite having one of the league’s top records midway through his first season. The Bucks are moving quickly, speaking with Doc Rivers about the opening, according to ESPN. Rivers, an ESPN analyst who was fired by the 76ers last spring, led the Celtics to an NBA title in the 2007-08 season. Joe Prunty, an assistant coach on Griffin’s staff, will serve as interim head coach. The Bucks are 3½ games behind the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. But the dip in Milwaukee’s defensive performance had raised concerns about the Bucks’ viability as a championship contender even after they had acquired seven-time All-NBA guard Damian Lillard before the season, to team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Four Celtics in Olympic pool

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday of the Celtics are among USA Basketball’s men’s player pool for the Paris Olympics announced Tuesday. There are few surprises, with most of the big names such as LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant on the list. The naming of the pool is the first official phase in the process of assembling a 12-player Olympic roster.

Heat trade Lowry for Rozier

Kyle Lowry, in the final year of his contract, spent the last couple of weeks in a slump and just last week lost his spot in the Heat starting lineup. A trade seemed inevitable — and the Hornets helped make it a reality. Lowry was traded by the Heat to the Hornets for Terry Rozier — someone enjoying the best season of his career — in a swap of guards that figures to be a big help for Miami in its playoff push. The defending Eastern Conference champion Heat also are sending a first-round draft pick to the Hornets to complete the deal . . . Cavaliers backup center Tristan Thompson was suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policy, a penalty that will keep him off the floor for two months.

BASEBALL Paxton and Dodgers agree

Lefthander James Paxton and the Dodgers have agreed to an $11 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. Paxton can earn up to $13 million if he is healthy and starts at least 20 games . . . Joey Gallo and the Nationals agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement for the 30-year-old outfielder and first baseman was subject to a physical . . . Righthanded reliever Robert Stephenson agreed to a $33 million, three-year contract with the Angels

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UConn’s Ducharme is out

UConn guard Caroline Ducharme of Milton will miss the remainder of the season with ongoing head and neck problems, the school announced. The junior, a Nobles standout and a Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, becomes the fifth member of the No. 8 Huskies to be lost for the season to health issues. Ducharme, a starter at the beginning of the season, has had concussion and, later, neck issues throughout her career . . . The BC men’s basketball team lost to Virginia Tech, 76-71, at Blacksburg, Va. Devin McGlockton led the Eagles (2-6 ACC, 11-8) with 19 points and 10 rebounds. BC, which has lost four of five, plays at Notre Dame Saturday.

NHL Flyers goalie Hart on leave

Flyers goaltender Carter Hart is taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons. General manager Daniel Briere announced Hart had requested and been granted time away from the team. He added that the Flyers will have no further comment.