Toronto inks Jay Triano to 3-year deal

May 12, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

TORONTO — Jay Triano signed a three-year contract Monday to coach the Toronto Raptors, dropping the interim tag after taking over the team during the season.

Triano was promoted Dec. 3 after Sam Mitchell’s dismissal.

The Raptors went 25-40 under Triano but finished strong, going 9-4 in their final 13 games.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, the 50-year-old Triano became the first Canadian-born and Canadian-trained coach in the NBA when he was hired in 2002 as an assistant to Lenny Wilkens. He spent six years as the Canadian national team’s coach, leading the squad to a seventh-place finish at the 2000 Olympics.

DiLeo out as 76ers coach

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers interim coach Tony DiLeo has withdrawn his name from consideration for the permanent coaching job.

Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski says DiLeo decided Monday to return to his old job in the front office as a senior vice president and assistant general manager.

Kings to interview Westphal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento plans to interview Paul Westphal this week for its coaching vacancy.

Westphal is the Mavericks’ executive vice president of basketball operations. His coaching resume includes during 31‚Ñ2 seasons in charge of the Suns, followed by stints with the SuperSonics and Pepperdine.

Odom questionable

LOS ANGELES — Lakers forward Lamar Odom is listed as questionable for tonight’s Game 5 against the Rockets after an MRI and CT scan showed he has a bruised lower back.