STOTTS FIRED
Terry Stotts was fired Wednesday as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who are struggling this season after injuries to key players.Â
JACKSON:Â NBA TARGETS KOBE
Lakers coach Phil Jackson accused the National Basketball Association of conducting a “witch hunt†on Kobe Bryant, who was disciplined for a third time in six weeks.   On Monday, the NBA assessed Bryant a flagrant foul 1 penalty for elbowing Philadelphia’s Kyle Korver in the jaw during last Friday’s game. Bryant has served two one-game suspensions recently for hitting players in the face while shooting. Jackson, who was fined $25,000 by the league earlier this season for criticizing the officiating, could be penalized again for the remarks.
INSIDER
The NBA fined Bucks center Andrew Bogut $25,000 on Wednesday for directing an obscene gesture toward fans. Bogut’s outburst came near the end of Milwaukee’s 108-93 loss at home to Toronto on Monday night. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft was ejected after committing a flagrant foul against Toronto’s Chris Bosh with 49 seconds remaining.
The slumping Indiana Pacers are uncertain when Jermaine O’Neal will return from his knee injury. O’neal has missed three games since an MRI exam last week revealed a sprained left knee.
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