Wittman fired; McHale to coach

Kevin McHale stepped down Monday as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ vice president of basketball operations, a position he has held since 1995, to become the coach after owner Glen Taylor fired Randy Wittman.

The job is not an interim one. McHale said he “plans on being here” for the long term, and General Manager Jim Stack and assistant GMs Fred Hoiberg and Rob Babcock will take over his executive duties for the remainder of the season.

The Timberwolves (4-15) have lost five consecutive games, the last two by a combined 52 points. They were blown out, 107-84, by the Clippers at home Saturday night.

Wittman is the fourth NBA coach to be fired this season, following P.J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington) and Sam Mitchell (Toronto).

Etc.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer, who has sat out 10 games because of a strained tendon in his left thigh, said he hoped to return for Thursday’s game against Portland. . . . Charlotte forward Gerald Wallace did not play against Miami following the death of his grandmother.