Struggling Cavaliers Remove Silas as Coach

Paul Silas was fired as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, his team fighting for a playoff spot after leading its division earlier this season. Assistant Brendan Malone was named interim coach.

The dismissal came with 18 games left and the team clinging to the fifth Eastern Conference playoff spot.

“They didn’t think the team was performing as well as it should be and they wanted to make a change,” Silas, 61, said.

The Cavaliers (34-30) have slumped since the All-Star break, losing nine of 12 and nine straight road games, including Sunday’s 105-98 loss to Toronto when LeBron James, 20, became the youngest NBA player to score 50 or more points with 56.

Silas also was fined $10,000 by the team last week for a derogatory comment about former Cavalier Carlos Boozer, now playing in Utah.

Silas joined Cleveland in 2003 after being fired by the New Orleans Hornets. He was 69-77 in Cleveland.

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Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis was suspended for three games by the NBA for kicking a courtside photographer in Friday’s loss at Seattle.

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Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson said that he expected to be fined or suspended after starting a heated exchange in which he claimed referee Marc Davis threatened to beat him up following the 76ers’ loss Saturday to Chicago. ... Seattle SuperSonic guard Ray Allen is a game-time decision tonight against Milwaukee after spraining his right ankle in Sunday’s victory over the Lakers.