Lakers fire coach Brown after poor start

The Los Angeles Lakers fired coach Mike Brown on Friday after a 1-4 start to his second season in charge. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak announced the move several hours before they hosted Golden State. Assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff will coach the Lakers against the Warriors while the club searches for Brown’s replacement after just 18 months in charge. Kupchak did nothing to squelch speculation that Phil Jackson could return for a third tenure with the Lakers. Los Angeles began the season with championship expectations after trading for center Dwight Howard and point guard Steve Nash, adding two superstars alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. But the Lakers went 0-8 during the preseason and opened the regular season with three more losses. – AP