NBA: Indiana Pacers fire head coach Nate McMillan

ANKARA

The Indiana Pacers fired head coach Nate McMillan, the NBA team confirmed on Wednesday.

''The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday they have relieved head coach Nate McMillan of his coaching duties,'' the Pacers said in a statement.

"On behalf of the Simon family and the Pacers organization, I'd like to thank Nate for his years with the team," said Kevin Pritchard, the Pacers president of basketball operations.

''This was a very hard decision for us to make; but we feel it's in the best interest of the organization to move in a different direction. Nate and I have been through the good times and the bad times; and it was an honor to work with him for those 11 years [in Indiana and Portland]."

The Indiana Pacers have been swept out of the playoffs by the Miami Heat in the first round.

The franchise added that their search for a new head coach would start immediately.