76ers fire Cheeks after a slow start

Maurice Cheeks was fired Saturday as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, who are slumping at 10-14 a year after making the playoffs. Assistant general manager Tony DiLeo will coach the rest of the season.

The dismissal came hours before the 76ers defeated the Washington Wizards, 104-89, with Elton Brand, Philadelphia’s big off-season acquisition, scoring a season-high 27 points.

President Ed Stefanski said he met with Cheeks, describing the former 76ers star as a “gentleman throughout” and a “class act.”

“I felt we were not progressing the way we had wanted to progress,” Stefanski said. “I didn’t feel on the floor we were executing the philosophy we wanted to have as Sixers basketball.”

One of the more popular players in 76ers history, Cheeks was starting his fourth season as coach. Stefanski had given Cheeks two contract extensions in the past season.

Cheeks became the fifth NBA coach fired this season, following P.J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Sam Mitchell (Toronto) and Randy Wittman (Minnesota).