Lakers face coach-less Nets

The New Jersey Nets fired coach Lawrence Frank a few hours before tonight’s game against the Lakers at Staples Center. The Nets replaced him with assistant coach Tom Barrise and said in a statement that a “permanent replacement for Coach Frank has not been determined.” The Nets were 0-16 to start the season under Frank and looked to avoid matching the league record for the longest losing streak to start a season. The Miami Heat in in 1988-89 and the Clippers in the strike-shortened 1999 season also started 0-17.