Reports: Celtics May Hire Rivers

The Boston Celtics are negotiating with former Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers to become the team’s next head coach, according to media reports.

The Celtics and Rivers were working on final details of a contract, the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe, citing anonymous sources, reported on their websites Wednesday.

“[Rivers] is a candidate,� Celtic spokesman Jeff Twiss told Associated Press on Wednesday. “Nothing has been signed. Nothing’s been confirmed.�

Twiss said it would take time to notify candidates once a decision is made. ESPN.com reported Wednesday that the Celtics were expected to hold a news conference today to introduce Rivers as coach.

Celtic director of basketball operations Danny Ainge canceled a trip to Israel for the European Final Four to finish the deal, according to the Herald.

Rivers was 171-168 in four-plus seasons with Orlando before being fired Nov. 18, after the Magic started a league-worst 1-10.

Rivers, 42, joined ABC Sports as an analyst two days after he was fired.

Rivers was the NBA coach of the year in 2000 after leading Orlando to a 41-41 record with four undrafted starters.

Rivers played 13 seasons in the NBA before retiring in 1996 to become a TV analyst for Turner Sports.

The Celtics are replacing interim coach John Carroll, dismissed Monday. Carroll guided Boston to a 14-22 record and a playoff berth after taking over for Jim O’Brien, who resigned at midseason.

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Denver star rookie Carmelo Anthony is questionable for Friday’s Game 5 of the Nuggets’ first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a sprained left knee.

Anthony was injured in the third quarter of Minnesota’s victory Tuesday night when he came down on teammate Marcus Camby’s foot after grabbing a rebound. Test results showed a mild sprain.

“It’s 50-50 right now,� Anthony said. “It’s always going to be like that the day after. I’m going to get some treatments and get some rehab and see how it goes. If I can’t go, I can’t go. I’m not going to force the issue of trying to go out there and try to prove to the world I can play hurt. I’m not going to do that.�

Even though the Nuggets trail, 3-1, in the best-of-seven series, Coach Jeff Bzdelik agreed that Anthony shouldn’t try to push it.

“We’re going to err on the side of caution,� Bzdelik said.

Anthony was struggling even before he got hurt. He missed his first 12 shots in the game and finished with two points on one-for-16 shooting.

-- Associated Press

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Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy ended up working Wednesday night’s Laker-Rocket game as a commentator for TNT after Doug Collins called in sick with laryngitis.

TNT had to recruit Dunleavy on short notice because there wasn’t time for any of the network’s regular commentators to make it to the game.

Dunleavy worked as an NBA commentator for NBC during the latter part of the 2001-02 season. TNT’s play-by-play announcer Wednesday night was Kevin Harlan.

-- Larry Stewart