Triano named interim Suns coach after firing
After the firing of coach Earl Watson on Sunday, the Suns promoted Jay Triano to interim head coach.
Triano, who served as associate head coach under Watson, was 87142 in two-plus seasons (2008-11) as the Raptors’ head coach. Triano was also the national team coach of Canada.
The Suns play the Kings on Monday night in Phoenix. There is an expectation that Triano will coach the Suns for the rest of the season.
General manager Ryan McDonough and Watson, a former NBA guard, were often at odds in their short partnership. Suns owner Robert Sarver was a significant part of the decision to replace Watson so early in the season, league sources said.
The Suns are one of the NBA’s youngest teams, mired in a long rebuild, and they could be the worst team in the league this season.
Watson leaves with a 33-85 record as coach. He had little coaching experience when he was made the Phoenix coach, with just a season in the NBA Development League and another on the Suns’ bench.
He was a 13-year NBA veteran who played in 46 games and averaged 7.5 points 21.2 minutes per game with the Nuggets during the 2005-06 season.
Boston’s Irving hit with fine.
Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving was fined $25,000 for using inappropriate language toward a fan, the NBA announced Sunday.
Irving took responsibility for a profane outburst directed at a fan in Philadelphia who yelled at him and referenced LeBron James during Friday’s game against the 76ers.
In a video that circulated on social media after Friday’s game, a fan is heard shouting “Kyrie, where’s LeBron?” as Boston players walked down their tunnel to the visitors’ locker room at halftime. Irving appears to look up to- ward the fan before offering a profane response.
Irving said he talked to the league office about his outburst on Saturday but was waiting to hear if he would be fined. Asked if he had any regrets about the incident, Irving was emphatic that he did not.
“(Heck), no,” Irving said. “(The fan was) man enough to record it on video, then that’s all him. I’m glad he got his (social media) name out there and then, kind of, five seconds of fame and it going viral. That’s the social media platform we live on. I take full responsibility (for) what I said and excuse (to) the kids at home and you move on.”
Teodosic sidelined indefinitely.
Clippers point guard Milos Teodosic suffered a plantar fascia injury in his left foot and will be out indefinitely, the team announced.
Teodosic was helped off the court and into the locker room in the second quarter of the Clippers’ win over the Suns on Saturday.
Teodosic, 30, signed with the Clippers this past offseason after playing overseas in Europe. He had six points and six assists in the Clippers’ win over the Lakers on Thursday.
Wade uncertain about his role.
CLEVELAND» Three games into his Cavaliers career, three-time champion Dwyane Wade admitted he is searching for his role with his new team following the Cavs’ 114-93 loss to the Magic on Saturday.
“I’m trying to find it, man,” Wade said after scoring five points on 2for-8 shooting against the Magic. “It’s very different, different than I’ve ever played. Just trying to find my way, as we go on, see how I can be best for this team. Everything’s happened so fast. This has been a long, a long week.”
What’s the biggest difference this season for the 15-year veteran?
“My option,” Wade said. “I’ve always been a (No.) 1 or 2 option. It’s just a different game. You got to kind of figure out your way.”
Cleveland’s No. 1 option, LeBron James, said that integrating Wade is a priority.