Bickerstaff Fired by Wizards

In danger of missing the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 years and struggling at 13-19, the Washington Wizards fired Bernie Bickerstaff as coach on Monday and replaced him in the interim with assistant Jim Brovelli, 57.

“It was very difficult. It was something I didn’t want to do today, but I felt I had to,” said General Manager Wes Unseld, whose friendship with Bickerstaff dates to the 1970s, when Unseld played in Washington and Bickerstaff was an assistant coach.

The Wizards are in fifth place in the Atlantic Division and not in playoff contention.

Bickerstaff, 55, was in his 10th season as an NBA coach. His record was 338-348, including 77-71 with the Wizards.

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Philadelphia 76er Coach Larry Brown and star guard Allen Iverson met Monday, but there was no indication their rocky relationship will change.

Iverson, who hasn’t played since a heated exchange with Brown during Friday’s loss at Cleveland, is now sidelined because of what the 76ers call a “severely bruised thigh.”