Atlanta Hawks fire San Jose’s Pierce as their head coach

Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce was fired on Monday following a disappointing start to a season of heightened expectations.

Hawks president Travis Schlenk announced the move in a short statement released by the team.

The Hawks are 14-20 and 11th in the Eastern Conference, following a 109-99 loss at Miami on Sunday.

Atlanta named former Seattle, Portland and Indiana head coach Nate McMillan interim coach. He was added to Pierce’s staff in the offseason.

“We would like to thank Lloyd for his work and commitment to not only the Hawks organization but the city of Atlanta,” Schlenk said in the statement.

Pierce, a San Jose native and former Yerba Buena High standout player, was an assistant coach with the Warriors (2010-11) and at Santa Clara University, where he played four seasons.

The Hawks last appeared in the playoffs in 2017. The team has rebuilt around point guard Trae Young and forward John Collins and invested heavily in veterans in the offseason.

Key additions included Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn.

Injuries to Bogdanovic and others have prevented Pierce from having a healthy roster, however.

Pierce, hired in 2018, was 63-120 (.344) with Atlanta. PELICANS 129, JAZZ 124 >> Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram scored 26 points each as the host New Orleans held off Utah.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 31 for the Jazz, who had won 23 of their previous 26 games,.

MAVERICKS 130, MAGIC 124 >> Dallas’ Luka Doncic had 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Jalen Brunson scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half.

Nikola Vucevic had 29 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for Orlando, 76ERS 130, PACERS 114 >> Shake Milton scored 26 points, Joel Embiid had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Philadelphia beat Indiana.