OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers received permission from the Warriors to interview top assistant Luke Walton for their coaching vacancy.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday before Game 5 of the playoffs against Houston that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak contacted Warriors GM Bob Myers, who said Walton could interview once the first-round series is done. The Warriors held a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series going into Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Walton, who won two championships during his nine seasons playing for the Lakers, guided defending champion Golden State to a record 24-0 start this season while filling in for Kerr when the coach was on a leave of absence following complications from two back surgeries. Overall, Walton was 39-4 while Kerr was out, and he finished eighth in Coach of the Year voting.
Los Angeles fired Byron Scott on Sunday night.
AP Source: Knicks interview Blatt for coaching job
NEW YORK -- A person with knowledge of the details says the New York Knicks have interviewed former Cleveland coach David Blatt for their head coaching position.
Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson met with Blatt this week, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the coaching search are private.
Blatt's interview was first reported Wednesday by Yahoo Sports.
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Blatt was fired by the Cavaliers after leading them to the NBA Finals last year in his first season and a 30-11 record this season. The longtime successful international coach was a teammate at Princeton with Knicks general manager Steve Mills.
Kurt Rambis finished the season as interim coach after Jackson fired Derek Fisher in February. Jackson has said his preference is to hire someone he knows, naming Rambis as the only person who would definitely get an interview.
Celtics: Stevens says PG Thomas on track to play Game 6
BOSTON -- Celtics coach Brad Stevens says that all signs point toward Isaiah Thomas being able to play in Game 6 against the Hawks.
Stevens said Wednesday that he'd gotten all positive updates on the All-Star guard's status, who limped to the locker room with a mild left ankle sprain in the closing minutes of Tuesday's 110-83 loss in Atlanta. Stevens said Thomas didn't experience much swelling and "he feels good." Boston hosts Atlanta Thursday night.
Thomas averaged 35 points in two victories at Boston that evened the series, but managed only seven points Tuesday as the Hawks took a 3-2 series lead.
Stevens says it's still unlikely that Avery Bradley will be able to return this series after sitting out his fourth straight game with a strained right hamstring.
He said Bradley did do some jogging recently, but experienced some soreness afterward.
