Timberwolves fire Thibodeau

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Timberwolves had just posted their fourth-largest margin of victory of the season, and Tom Thibodeau looked and sounded satisfied on Sunday as the demanding and intense coach used his postgame news conference to praise the attitude and energy with which his team had just played.

Minutes later, Thibodeau was fired.

Halfway into his third season with Minnesota that began in turmoil surrounding the eventual trade of All-Star Jimmy Butler, Thibodeau's final game was a 108-86 victory over the LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers.