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Scott Brooks out as Washington Wizards coach after 5 seasons

ton, Indiana and New Or- Brooks had been the seventh
Sheppard skirted the issue leans. The Pelicans, like the longest-tenured coach in his
of Brooks’ future after the Wizards, had their job come current job. He was hired
Wizards were eliminated in open Wednesday when it was in 2016; only San Antonio’s
five games in the first round revealed that Stan Van Gundy Gregg Popovich, Miami’s
by Eastern Conference top- was out in New Orleans after Erik Spoelstra, Dallas’ Rick
seeded Philadelphia. Wash- one season. Carlisle, Golden State’s Steve
ington was 183-207 overall Kerr, Utah’s Quin Snyder
during the regular season Many of the candidates for and Denver’s Michael Malo-
with Brooks as coach and the now half-dozen openings ne have had their current
struggled defensively. will be crossovers: Chauncey jobs longer.
Billups and David Vanterpool
The Wizards allowed the are on several of the lists, as Sheppard praised Brooks
most points in the NBA last are past head coaches like for “keeping this team to-
season and the second-most Terry Stotts (who left Port- gether through some of the
in the previous two years. land) and current Brooklyn most difficult, dark moments
They never ranked better assistant Mike D’Antoni. probably in franchise his-
(AP) — Scott Brooks ultimately lead to sustained than 15th in the league de- tory.” He wasn’t the only one
won’t be back with the on-court success,” Sheppard fensively under Brooks. It also raises the chance that supportive of Brooks’ perfor-
Washington Wizards next said in a statement. “Our the NBA could see a female mance as a lame-duck coach.
season after general man- organization will always be Washington brought in coach for the first time, with
ager Tommy Sheppard an- grateful to Scott for his dedi- Brooks five years ago in longtime San Antonio assis- “He did a job that I’m pretty
nounced Wednesday the cation and work both on the hopes of luring area native tant Becky Hammon, Duke sure people didn’t think he
coach’s contract would court and in the community Kevin Durant home to play coach and former Boston as- was able to do,” said West-
not be extended. over the past five years, and for the Wizards. Since then, sistant Kara Lawson, South brook, who previously was
I personally admire and re- John Wall missed time with Carolina coach and cur- coached by Brooks with the
Sheppard said the Wizards spect how he helped keep injuries and was traded to rent U.S. women’s national Oklahoma City Thunder.
will begin their coaching our team together during the Houston for Russell West- team coach Dawn Staley and “He kept us together. He
search immediately. unprecedented events of the brook, and Beal emerged as New Orleans assistant Te- kept us encouraged. He kept
last 15 months.” Washington’s top scorer, but resa Weatherspoon the most us fighting.”
“We have been committed to that didn’t amount to much prominent women on the
taking the proper steps over Brooks is out after just one postseason success. lists of candidates. Brooks said at the time he
the last two seasons to devel- playoff series victory in 2017 “wouldn’t want to move on”
op our young players, bring to show for his five seasons Washington is now one of Lawson has a connection to from the Wizards, who are
in pieces to complement on the job. Washington made six teams with the coaching the Wizards after serving as now looking for their sixth
Bradley Beal and build a win- the playoffs three times in job open in the NBA, join- a television analyst for them. coach since 2009.
ning environment that will those five years. ing Orlando, Portland, Bos-

Clippers' Kawhi Leonard sprains right knee, out for Game 5

(AP) - All-NBA forward with the top-seeded Jazz and that’s the next step, but I’m
Kawhi Leonard has a right are trying to reach the West not even looking at that.”
knee sprain that will keep finals for the first time in Leonard’s injury appeared
him out of the Los Angeles franchise history. Leonard is to occur with about 5:20
Clippers’ lineup for Game a two-time NBA Finals MVP, left in Game 4 of the series
5 of the Western Confer- and is averaging 30.4 points against Utah on Monday
ence semifinals against on 57% shooting in the play- night, when he was fouled
the Utah Jazz on Wednes- offs. on a drive by Utah’s Bo-
day night and raises ques- jan Bogdanovic. Leonard
tions about his availability The Clippers were 11-9 was dribbling into the lane
going forward. without Leonard during the when he was bumped, and
regular season. They’re 6-1 his right knee appeared to
The Clippers said Wednes- so far in the playoffs when he buckle slightly. He grimaced
day that there is “no time- scores at least 28 points, 0-4 in some discomfort, missed
table for his return.” Game otherwise. the two free throws that were
5 is Wednedsday in Salt Lake awarded following the foul,
City; Game 6 of the series is “I don’t care about the West- but remained in the game for when he checked out and the Sunday. If the Clippers-Jazz
Friday in Los Angeles. ern Conference Finals,” 45 more seconds. lead remained in double fig- series ends Friday, Game 1
Leonard said after Game 4 ures the rest of the way. of the Western Conference
It is a massive blow for the of the series against the Jazz. He checked out with 4:35 re- finals between the LA-Utah
Clippers, who have split the “I’m trying to win a cham- maining and did not return; Game 7, if necessary, would winner and Phoenix will be
first four games of their series pionship. I mean, obviously the Clippers led by 16 points be back in Salt Lake City on Sunday.

Federer fails to make Halle Open quarterfinals for 1st time

(AP) — Roger Federer failed to reach the Marcos Giron, who later rallied to beat Germany’s
Halle Open quarterfinals for the first time Federer had been going for his 18th quarterfinal in Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4.
Wednesday when Félix Auger-Aliassime ral- as many appearances at the grass-court tournament,
lied from a set down to stun the former cham- but was unable to deal with his young opponent’s Struff had shocked top-seeded Russian Daniil
pion 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round. change of tactics in the second set. Auger-Aliassime Medvedev on Tuesday.
targeted the backhand with his strong serves and
The 20-year-old Auger-Aliassime is 19 years the Canadian player converted three break oppor- Also Wednesday, Andrey Rublev defeated Austra-
younger than the Swiss great, who has won the tunities to win in 1 hour, 45 minutes. lia’s Jordan Thompson 6-4, 6-4 and veteran home
Halle tournament a record 10 times. Both share favorite Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Corentin Mou-
the same birthday – Aug. 8. Auger-Aliassime next faces American qualifier tet of France 6-4, 7-6 (4).