Nets let Carlesimo go

The Brooklyn Nets said Sunday that P.J. Carlesimo wouldn’t return as coach, hours after they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Carlesimo helped the Nets finish 49-33 after replacing the fired Avery Johnson in December, earning the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. “The Brooklyn Nets organization would like to thank P.J. for his efforts with the team in his roles as both head coach and assistant, and for his contributions to the team’s success,” general manager Billy King said in a statement. The Nets were just 14-14 after a December slump, prompting owner Mikhail Prokhorov to fire Johnson. The Nets won 12 of their first 14 under Carlesimo and went 10-3 down the stretch to earn home-court advantage in the first round. – AP