nate_mcmillan.jpegPORTLAND, Oregon (AP) _ The Portland Trail Blazers have fired coach Nate McMillan. The Blazers announced the move on Thursday, one day after a 42-point loss to the Knicks in New York. Assistant coach Caleb Kanales will be the interim head coach.

 

The Blazers have lost seven of their last 10 games to fall out of the NBA Western Conference playoff race. The firing was part of an overhaul that included trading veteran center Marcus Camby to the Houston Rockets and versatile forward Gerald Wallace to the New Jersey Nets.

Portland is 20-23 and in 12th place in the West. McMillan went 266-269 in over six seasons as coach of the Blazers and led them to the playoffs in the previous three seasons.