In the News

Avery Johnson of New Jersey Nets adds ex-head coaches Sam Mitchell, Larry Krystkowiak as assistants
Avery Johnson has named his new coaching staff with the New Jersey Nets.

Mitchell, Krystkowiak join Nets' staff (AP)
Former NBA coaches Sam Mitchell and Larry Krystkowiak joined the New Jersey Nets' coaching staff Monday. New coach Avery Johnson also hired Popeye Jones and retained John Loyer and Tom Barrise. "Avery has assembled a staff that brings a wealth of NBA experience to the sidelines," general manager Billy King said.

Nets add Mitchell, Krystkowiak to staff
Former NBA coaches Sam Mitchell and Larry Krystkowiak joined the New Jersey Nets' coaching staff Monday.

New Jersey Nets add Sam Mitchell to coach Avery Johnson's staff
Sam Mitchell, the NBA's coach of the year in 2007, will join the New Jersey Nets as Coach Avery Johnson's top assistant, according to league sources.

Carter 0-for-13 as Nets fall to Raptors (AP)

Chris Bosh scored 18 points and Toronto capitalized on Vince Carter's 0-for-13 night to beat the New Jersey Nets 101-79 on Friday, the Raptors' second straight win under interim coach Jay Triano. Jason Kapono, with four 3-pointers, and Joey Graham each had 16 points. Jose Calderon scored 13 as the Raptors improved to 2-3 under Triano, who replaced Sam Mitchell on Dec.

Raptors give Triano first win as coach (AP)

Jason Kapono scored a season-high 25 points, Chris Bosh added 21 points and 10 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors snapped a five-game losing streak with a 101-88 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. The victory was Toronto's first in four tries since interim coach Jay Triano took over for the fired Sam Mitchell on Dec.

Coach of the Year winners often overrated
Coach of the Year in '07, fired in '08. Sam Mitchell isn't alone. Which goes to show how worthless the award is, Charley Rosen says.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Foxsports/rss/NBA/~4/474205282" height="1" width="1"/

Underachieving Raptors fire Mitchell as coach
The Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday, one day after the team absorbed an embarrassing loss to the Denver Nuggets.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Foxsports/rss/NBA/~4/474051926" height="1" width="1"/

Raptors fire Mitchell after struggling to 8-9 start
Sources say the Toronto Raptors have fired coach Sam Mitchell.

Raptors fire Mitchell, Triano takes over (AP)
The Toronto Raptors have fired coach Sam Mitchell one day after the team absorbed an embarrassing loss at Denver. Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo says assistant Jay Triano has been promoted to interim coach. Triano's first game as coach is Friday night at Utah. Colangelo calls Wednesday's move a difficult but necessary step.

Raptors O'Neal day-to-day with injured left knee
Raptors forward Jermaine O'Neal did not practice Saturday and was listed as day-to-day after straining his surgically repaired left knee against New Jersey on Friday night. O'Neal was scheduled to receive treatment twice Saturday and could play Sunday when Toronto hosts defending NBA-champion Boston. "We've already made contingency plans if he can't go," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said.img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Foxsports/rss/NBA/~4/462158858" height="1" width="1"/

Bosh's 30 points, 15 boards lift Raptors (AP)

Chris Bosh had 30 points and 15 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors pulled away late for an 89-79 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday. Andrea Bargnani scored 18 points for the Raptors, including a key 3-pointer with less than six minutes to go that put them ahead to stay. Jose Calderon added 13 points and Jamario Moon had 10 for Toronto, which snapped a two-game losing streak after opening...

Hawks off to best start since '97 at 4-0 (AP)

Mike Bibby scored all of his 19 points in the first half, making four 3-pointers during an 18-4 run that broke open the game, and the unbeaten Atlanta Hawks routed the Toronto Raptors 110-92 on Friday night. Bibby added 12 assists for Atlanta (4-0). The Hawks are off to their best start since 1997, when they won their first 11 games.

Mitchell mum on Raptors lineup changes
With his team facing a 2-0 series deficit, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell knows something has to change. Exactly who that change involves, Mitchell isn't saying. The Raptors have lost by double-digit deficits in the first quarter of both playoff games so far against the Orlando Magic. Toronto came back and had a chance to win Game 2, but All-Star forward Chris Bosh's last-second jumper bounced off the front rim, sealing Orlando's 104-103 victory.

Raptors mum on lineup changes for Game 3 (AP)
With his team facing a 2-0 series deficit, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell knows something has to change. Exactly who that change involves, Mitchell isn't saying. The Raptors have lost by double-digit deficits in the first quarter of both playoff games so far against the Orlando Magic. Toronto came back and had a chance to win Game 2, but All-Star forward Chris Bosh's last-second jumper bounced off the...

Reeling Raptors try to regroup vs. Magic (AP)
The Toronto Raptors tinkered with their starting lineup and tried a few new plays early in their first-round playoff opener against the Orlando Magic. The result? After 12 minutes and a barrage of Magic 3-pointers, they were down 43-23, and all but out of it with three quarters left. But Raptors coach Sam Mitchell doesn't think their 114-100 loss Sunday had anything to do with the changes.

Jazz extend home win streak to 19 (AP)

Deron Williams scored 21 points and his backup, Ronnie Price, had 13 points and five assists as the Utah Jazz tied a franchise record with their 19th straight home victory, a 96-79 win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. With the game tied at 65, Price led the Jazz on 24-4 run to start the fourth quarter.

Bosh to miss time with sore knee
Raptors star Chris Bosh will sit out at least three games after feeling soreness in his right knee, coach Sam Mitchell told Toronto's FAN 590 Saturday.

Raptors cruise past Knicks 115-92 (AP)
Andrea Bargnani had 25 points and Chris Bosh added 17 as the Toronto Raptors rebounded from a loss to New York two days earlier and beat the Knicks 115-92 on Sunday night. Anthony Parker added 16 points and T.J. Ford came off the bench to score 15 as Toronto gave coach Sam Mitchell a victory in his 300th game.

Mitchell leaves Raptors after father-in-law's death
Raptors coach Sam Mitchell is taking a leave of absence so that he can fly home to Atlanta following the death of his father-in-law. A team spokesman said Monday that Mitchell will not rejoin the Raptors until after the All-Star break. Toronto's first game after the break is at home against Orlando on Feb. 20. Assistant coach Mike Evans was to take charge of the team for Monday's game against San Antonio, because the Spurs are one of the teams he scouts.

Raps coach Mitchell leaves team after family death
Raptors coach Sam Mitchell is taking a leave of absence so that he can fly home to Atlanta following the death of his father-in-law.

Raptors' Mitchell takes leave of absence (AP)
Raptors coach Sam Mitchell is taking a leave of absence so that he can fly home to Atlanta following the death of his father-in-law. A team spokesman said Monday that Mitchell will not rejoin the Raptors until after the All-Star break. Toronto's first game after the break is at home against Orlando on Feb.

Bosh, Bargnani and Ford out for Raptors
The Raptors will be without forwards Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani and guard T.J. Ford on Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. "We've got probably three of our most talented players injured," coach Sam Mitchell said. Bosh has not played since leaving in the second quarter of last Wednesday's victory over Memphis because of a strained groin. Toronto has split its past two games without Bosh, who leads the team with 18.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Raptors' Bosh, Bargnani, Ford sit out (AP)
The Raptors will be without forwards Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani and guard T.J. Ford on Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. "We've got probably three of our most talented players injured," coach Sam Mitchell said. Bosh has not played since leaving in the second quarter of last Wednesday's victory over Memphis because of a strained groin.

Raptors pick up option on Graham
Toronto forward Joey Graham will stay through the 2008-09 season after the Raptors exercised their fourth-year option Monday. "I think Joey's earned it, he's gotten better every year," coach Sam Mitchell said. "He's a guy you definitely want to keep on your roster." The team had until Oct. 31 to exercise its option on Graham, who is making just under $1.6 million this season. He will earn about $2.4 million next season. Graham has averaged 6.5 points and 3.

Raptors pick up Graham's 4th-year option (AP)
Toronto forward Joey Graham will stay through the 2008-09 season after the Raptors exercised their fourth-year option Monday. "I think Joey's earned it, he's gotten better every year," coach Sam Mitchell said. "He's a guy you definitely want to keep on your roster." The team had until Oct. 31 to exercise its option on Graham, who is making just under $1.6 million this season.