Reggie Theus got barely more than 100 games to lead the Sacramento Kings before they headed in yet another direction with yet another new head coach.

Theus was fired by Sacramento yesterday after a 6-18 start to his second season with the club. Assistant coach Kenny Natt took over the Kings for last night's game against Minnesota.

The Kings beat the Timberwolves, 118-103.

Natt, a first-time head coach who has the job on an interim basis, is the fourth coach in less than three years for the Kings, who are in disarray after a prolonged run as one of the NBA's elite clubs earlier in the decade.

Assistant coach Chuck Person was fired along with Theus, who went 44-62 in his brief tenure with Sacramento.

Sacramento's 24-point home loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday night was Theus' final game. Sacramento is tied for third in the Pacific Division, 14 games behind the leader Los Angeles Lakers.

"When you look at the overall level of performance that we've experienced this year, it's just not where we want to be," said Geoff Petrie, the Kings' top basketball executive. "Sometimes you just need to try a different voice if you want to try and change things. It's not about just any one game."

Theus is the sixth coach fired in the NBA already this season, following P.J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Sam Mitchell (Toronto), Randy Wittman (Minnesota) and Maurice Cheeks (Philadelphia), who was dismissed Saturday.

"It was a great experience, and I just wish I could have seen it through," Theus told KHTK-AM, the Kings' flagship radio station. "For it to have been better, a lot of things would have had to have been different. ... I think we were entertaining. Good and bad, when people came to games, it was fun."

Kings 118, 'wolves 103: Francisco Garcia scored 21 points, John Salmons added 17 and host Sacramento beat Minnesota in the Kings' first game under interim coach Kenny Natt.

Brad Miller added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings in just their second win in 12 games.

Al Jefferson scored all of his 22 points in the first half for Minnesota.

Celtics 100, Jazz 91: Rajon Rondo scored 12 of his career-high 25 points in the final 5:20, and Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead host Boston to its 15th straight win.

Kendrick Perkins added 15 points and 14 rebounds for Boston. Paul Pierce scored 15 points before he hurt his left knee during a scramble for a defensive rebound with 31 seconds left. He said he should be all right.

Paul Millsap scored a career-high 32 points with 10 rebounds for Utah.

Suns 111, Knicks 103: Steve Nash scored 21 points, including a game-clinching 3-pointer with 28 seconds to play, and the Suns spoiled New York coach Mike D'Antoni's return to Phoenix.

Shaquille O'Neal had 23 points, making 11 of 18 free throws, and 12 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire added 21 points and 14 boards for the Suns.

New York's Nate Robinson scored 27, 17 after halftime, in his second game back from a groin injury.

Nuggets 98, Mavs 88: Reserve J.R. Smith scored 25 points, Carmelo Anthony added 23, and host Denver beat Dallas to extend its winning streak to four games.

Chauncey Billups had 15 points and eight assists for the Nuggets.

Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Jason Terry scored 19 points for the Mavericks, who had won 11 of their previous 13.

Bucks 98, Heat 83: Michael Redd scored 16 of his 21 points in the first quarter, and Milwaukee started quickly before holding off a late rally to beat host Miami.

Andrew Bogut had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Charlie Villanueva added 20 points for Milwaukee, which won on the road for the first time since beating Charlotte on Nov. 22.

Mario Chalmers had 20 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, and Dwyane Wade added 15 points for the Heat, who lost their third straight game.

Nets 94, Raptors 87: Vince Carter had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ryan Anderson scored 21 points, and New Jersey beat host Toronto to snap a three-game losing streak.

Devin Harris added 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter.

Chris Bosh and Jason Kapono each scored 17 for Toronto. Jose Calderon added 15 points and Jermaine O'Neal had 12 for the Raptors.

Hawks 83, Bobcats 79: Joe Johnson scored 18 of his 28 points in the second half to lead host Atlanta over Charlotte, extending the Bobcats' losing streak to seven.

Al Horford added 12 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta, which won its third straight and improved to 9-1 at home.

Boris Diaw led Charlotte with a season-high 25 points and Raymond Felton added 15.

Pacers 118, Wizards 98: Danny Granger scored 27 points and Marquis Daniels had 20 points as Indiana snapped a six-game losing streak by beating host Washington.

Point guards T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack each scored 16 points for the Pacers.

Antawn Jamison had 26 points and a season-high 15 rebounds — his 14th double-double this season — and Caron Butler scored 26 for Washington.

Magic 109, Warriors 98: Jameer Nelson scored 23 of his career-high 32 points in the second half, and Orlando beat host Golden State for its fourth win in five road games.

Marcin Gortat, starting in place of the injured Dwight Howard, recorded his second career double-double with career bests of 16 points and 13 rebounds as the Magic improved to 19-6, their best 25-game start since opening the 1994-95 season at 20-5.

Andris Beidrins scored 23 points to lead the Warriors, who have lost 12 of their last 14 games.