Danny Ainge wants Kevin McHale to join Celtics

They were going up against the Rockets, a sexy title pick heading into the start of the season that fired their head coach Kevin McHale less than 12 hours before tip-off with last year’s runner-up in the MVP voting James Harden.

With JB Bickerstaff in interim charge, Houston edged out the Portland Trail Blazers 108-103 in overtime and had Corey Brewer to thank for an off-balance three-pointer with 0.9s remaining that forced the extra period. “You’re a team coming off a Western Conference final run and you’re a team with mostly the same group and it was not working”.

“It’s not all about the head coach”, Morey said. Assistant J.B. Bickerstaff will serve as interim coach. McHale had been the coach in Houston since 2011. Scott Brooks, who coached Rockets to the title in 1995, is a leading candidate. The team trailed, 76-61, and looked to be on its way to a fourth straight loss.

“First and foremost, we’re in a business where expectations certainly drive decisions at times”, Stevens told reporters before his team hosted the Mavericks. But sometimes in the National Basketball Association, one good quarter is all you need to change your narrative. We know this team can win. Another strong candidate with Houston ties, Charlotte’s Steve Clifford, could be a free agent this summer.

Paul Silas, a strong, tough big man who could rebound and defend with the best of them, played five seasons with the Celtics and won two championships.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points, and Dallas erased an 18-point, first-half deficit to beat Boston for its fifth straight win. CJ McCollum had 19 points and six assists and Plumlee added nine points, four assists and a career-high six blocks. It’s no surprise that their most effective lineups offensively involve a few combination of Harden, Trevor Ariza and Marcus Thornton, given their ability to space the floor.

Kevin McHale is gone… and the Houston Rockets snap their four game losing streak.

After taking the inbounds pass, Harden eluded the grasp of Blazers wing Allen Crabbe and raced toward the frontcourt. Teams are doing whatever they want against them.

The Magic may not have a single star player on the level of Andrew Wiggins or Karl-Anthony Towns, the two phenoms they played Wednesday night. They do have a young group progressing together on the court, though, and a veteran coach with a track record of making quick improvements. “Things started out a little rocky, but we’re going to turn this thing around”.

Zaza Pachulia had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Mavericks. Westbrook took just 25.

The Sixers don’t look close to winning soon.

The 18-time Olympic gold medalist announced Wednesday on his Instagram and Twitter accounts that his fiancee Nicole Johnson is expecting their first child. Rodney Stuckey (ankle) and George Hill (illness) missed another game, but C.J. Favors scored 18 points with 11 boards, and he’s been a second-round value so far and has outperformed Rudy Gobert. “You had a big game, but you’ve got to get those towels, man. He can celebrate later”.

Karl-Anthony Towns can already eat up shots with the best of them.

Jahlil Okafor’s sweet post moves might by Philly’s only bright spot right now.