Hornets’ Clifford plans to step down
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Steve Clifford said the grind of an 82-game season became too much — and the losing didn’t help, either.
So Clifford informed the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday that he is stepping down as head coach after the season. He plans to stay on in an advisory role, with the details still being worked out.
Clifford said he wasn’t forced out by management and it was his decision to leave.
“You need a certain energy level to get through 82 games,” Clifford told the Associated Press. “This year was really tough to get through.”
It doesn’t help that the Hornets are 18-57 this season and just 45-112 over the past two seasons under Clifford.
“Probably the losing over the last couple of years has been part of it,” Clifford said. “I don’t know how you gauge that, but it wears on you. This can be an incredibly rewarding league. But it’s also difficult with all of the travel. I got to the point this year where it was all too much for me. I need time away from coaching.”
Clifford declined to say if his health factored into his decision.
In 2017, during his first stint with the Hornets, Clifford stepped away from the team because of a health issue.
Clifford believes the Hornets are in good hands and have a solid core in Brandon Miller and Lamelo Ball.
“The foundation is there,” Clifford said. “Two days ago I am sitting here and watching our game earlier this season against the Celtics (from November) and Lamelo has 36 points and (eight) assists and Mark (Williams) has 18 points and 16 rebounds and Miles (Bridges) hits a game-winning 3. My point is there is a talented foundation there.”
Clifford is 337-457 in parts of 10 seasons as a head coach, most of them in Charlotte. He started as a head coach in Charlotte in 2013, then spent three seasons as coach of Orlando before returning to the Hornets.
Clifford’s contract was set to expire after the season.
Embiid scores 24 in first game back
Joel Embiid put Philadelphia ahead with four free throws in the final 40 seconds and finished with 24 points in his first game in nine weeks following knee surgery, leading the 76ers to a 109-105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Embiid added seven assists and six rebounds in nearly 30 minutes — but most important, he brought the confidence that the Sixers can salvage their season and make a postseason run with last season’s MVP in the lineup.
Chet Holmgren scored 22 points to lead the Thunder, who are in a tight race with Minnesota and Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Tuesday’s highlights
Naz Reid had 25 points and six rebounds and Anthony Edwards scored 19 points as the host Minnesota Timberwolves kept up their push for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 113-106 victory over the Houston Rockets. … Andrew Wiggins scored 23 points as the Golden State Warriors overcame Luka Doncic’s 20th triple-double of the season to beat visiting Dallas 104-100, snapping the Mavericks’ sevengame winning streak. … Domantas Sabonis had 22 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists as the host Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-95.