The New Jersey Nets fired coach Lawrence Frank yesterday after losing their first 16 games during one of the worst starts in NBA history.

Assistant Tom Barrise coached the team last night in Los Angeles against the Lakers. The Nets said a permanent replacement for Frank hasn't been determined.

Frank was in his sixth full season, the longest-tenured coach in the Eastern Conference and the winningest coach in the Nets' NBA history. But none of those victories came this season, and the team dismissed him with a 225-241 record.

New Jersey went on to match the worst start to an NBA season with its 17th consecutive loss last night, with Kobe Bryant scoring 30 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 106-87 victory.

• Celtics 92, Heat 85: Kevin Garnett scored 24 points on 11 of 12 shooting, Ray Allen delivered the big blow with a 3-pointer with 1:38 left and visiting Boston rallied to beat Miami.

• Clippers 98, Grizzlies 88: Eric Gordon scored 29 points and host Los Angeles rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Memphis, giving coach Mike Dunleavy his 600th regular-season victory.

• Magic 114, Knicks 102: Rashard Lewis scored 13 of his season-high 26 points in the third quarter, and Orlando beat New York for its sixth consecutive road victory.

• Pistons 94, Hawks 88: Ben Wallace had 18 rebounds to help undermanned Detroit end a seven-game losing streak with a victory against visiting Atlanta.

• Suns 113, Raptors 94: Steve Nash had 20 points and 16 assists, Jason Richardson scored 22 points and Phoenix won its fourth consecutive with a victory against host Toronto.

• Spurs 97, 76ers 89: Tim Duncan scored 22 points and San Antonio won its fifth consecutive with a victory against visiting Philadelphia.

• Rockets 100, Thunder 91: Houston's Aaron Brooks scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half to help beat host Oklahoma City.

• Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 100: Ryan Gomes scored 27 points, and visiting Minnesota snapped a 15-game losing streak by beating Denver.

• Kings 112, Hornets 96: Sergio Rodriguez scored a career-high 24 points, and host Sacramento won its third in a row with a victory against New Orleans.

• Philadelphia 76ers coach Eddie Jordan said he hasn't talked to Allen Iverson about bringing him out of retirement and that the Sixers are not seriously looking at any free agents.

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