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Lakers coach resigns

He moves on after less than two seasons with team

LOS ANGELES Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni resigned yesterday after less than two seasons on the job. Team spokesman John Black confirmed D'Antoni's resignation, ending the brief tenure of the Lakers' fourth head coach in less than 3 years.

D'Antoni went 67-87 after taking over the Lakers early in the 2012-13 season. He replaced the fired Mike Brown, who lasted just 71 games after replacing 11-time NBA champion coach Phil Jackson.

The injury-plagued Lakers were 27-55 this season, their worst campaign in more than 50 years. With Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol missing large chunks of the season, Los Angeles missed the playoffs for only the third time in 38 years.

"Given the circumstances, I don't know that anybody could have done a better job than Mike did the past two seasons," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "On behalf of the Lakers, we thank Mike for the work ethic, professionalism and positive attitude that he brought to the team every day. We wish him the best of luck."

D'Antoni, 62, had 1 year left on his contract, but wanted the Lakers to pick up his option year for 2015-16 to have any chance of success. The Lakers apparently refused, leading to D'Antoni's resignation.

A phone message left for D'Antoni wasn't immediately returned.

D'Antoni also coached the Suns and the Knicks, reaching two Western Conference finals with Nash in Phoenix before having much less success in New York.

In games last night:

* At San Antonio, Tony Parker had 23 points hours after the birth of his first child and the Spurs never trailed in a 109-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, taking a 3-2 lead in their first-round series.

Vince Carter scored 28 points, making numerous heavily contested shots in going 10-for-16 from the field for Dallas.

* At Toronto, Kyle Lowry scored 36 points and the Raptors withstood a fourth-quarter Brooklyn rally to beat the Nets, 115-113, and take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Noteworthy

* Clippers guard Jamal Crawford will be named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year for the second time in his career, a league official with knowledge of the award told the Associated Press.

* Charlotte Bobcats power forward Josh McRoberts had surgery to remove bone spurs from his left big toe.