Special features

NBA: Mitchell pays the price

Raptors sack head coach after sluggish start to season

Last updated: 4th December 2008

Mitchell: Shown the door

The Toronto Raptors have installed assistant Jay Triano as their new coach following their 132-93 defeat to the Denver Nuggets.

Sam Mitchell had led the Raptors to the play-offs in each of the last two seasons and was honored as the NBA's coach of the year for 2006-07.

But a poor start to the new season, which left the team 8-9 has led general manager Bryan Colangelo to act.

The 39-point deficit against the Nuggets was the fifth-worst loss in Raptors history and Colangelo insists he had no choice.

"Obviously, last night's game was just an absolute kick to the gut," he said. "When you look back, it's a culmination of things. Expectations are high. We want to win."

Triano, who is the first Canadian head coach in NBA history, is likely to be in charge for the rest of the season and his first game will be against Utah Jazz on Friday.