Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy. (Photo by Jim Rogash/NBAE via Getty Images)
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic have fired coach Stan Van Gundy after a rocky season.
The Magic also have mutually agreed to part ways with general manager Otis Smith.
The moves came Monday after the team’s second straight first-round playoff exit. Orlando went 37-29 in the regular season, but stumbled in the Eastern Conference playoffs following a rash of late-season injuries that included back surgery for All-Star Dwight Howard.
Orlando went 5-12 without Howard, including a 4-1 playoff loss to Indiana.
Van Gundy coached the Magic for five seasons. He finished with a 259-135 record, going 31-28 in the playoffs.
Smith departs after six seasons. He was the architect of Magic teams that made it to the playoffs in each of those seasons, including winning the Eastern Conference championship in 2009.
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