Struggling Suns Fire Johnson

Frank Johnson was fired on Wednesday as coach of the Phoenix Suns, a young team with high expectations that is off to an 8-13 start and has lost six of its last seven games.

The Suns promoted lead assistant Mike D’Antoni, 52, who coached the Denver Nuggets in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.

“Everybody’s got to be in the trench together and it just didn’t seem that way,” Sun owner Jerry Colangelo said. “That’s not pointing fingers at anyone, but the bottom line was something’s got to change.”

Johnson, 45, spent 10 years with the team as a player, community relations official and coach. He replaced Scott Skiles as coach late in the 2001-02 season, going 11-20. Last season, he led the team to a 44-38 record and a surprising playoff berth.

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Chicago Bull forward Scottie Pippen is considering retirement because of recurring knee problems that have already kept him out of seven games.

“I question myself whether or not I can play another year. Or this year,” said Pippen, 38, who signed a two-year, $10-million deal in the off-season.

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Former Clipper center Michael Olowokandi, who has not played a complete game since joining the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, was advised to continue rehabbing his ailing right knee and told that surgery is possible if it doesn’t work. Surgery would sideline him for at least six-to-eight more weeks.... Suspended Rocket forward Eddie Griffin’s arraignment on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was postponed to Jan. 14 in Houston, according to one of his lawyers. But a misdemeanor charge of assault with bodily injury was dismissed. The charges are related to allegations of a fight with a woman who claims he beat her and fired a gun in her direction in October.... Philadelphia 76er forward Glenn Robinson was activated from the injured list after sitting out 15 games because of a left ankle sprain.