Sacramento Kings fire head coach Michael Malone

The Sports Xchange

11 years ago

Dec 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Lakers won 98-95. won Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 6, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone instructs his team against the Orlando Magic in the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Magic defeated the Kings 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 5, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone yells from the sidelines during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.

Dec 8, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone calls out from the sideline against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Utah Jazz 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 13, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone looks on before the game against the Detroit Pistons at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 11, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone calls out to his players during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Just 24 games in the season, the Sacramento Kings fired coach Michael Malone, multiple media outlets reported late Sunday night.

Lead assistant coach Tyrone Corbin reportedly will take charge of the team on an interim basis.

Sacramento (11-13) is riding a three-game losing streak and is in the midst of a 2-8 skid. The Kings opened the season with five wins in their first six games.

The recent slump largely coincides with the absence of DeMarcus Cousins. With the center sidelined due to viral meningitis, the Kings are 2-7 over the past nine games.

In Malone’s first season behind the Sacramento bench in 2013-14, the Kings went 28-54.

Corbin has previous head-coaching experience with the Utah Jazz from February 2010 until he was fired in April 2014. He posted a 112-146 record, and he led the team to the 2012 playoffs (a four-game, first-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs).

Sacramento dropped home games to the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The Kings’ next game is at home Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.