Tyrone Corbin loses interim tag

BOSTON -- Sacramento Kings coach Tyrone Corbin says his interim tag has been lifted for the rest of the season.

Corbin spoke before the team's loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. He replaced fired coach Michael Malone on Dec. 15.

Corbin says the team can "relax on that part of it and focus more on the games."

The Kings are 2-6 since Corbin took over the team, including Wednesday's game.

Malone was fired just 24 games into his second season. General manager Pete D'Alessandro has said he wants the Kings to play a more free-wheeling offense.

Corbin, 52, went 112-146 in three-plus seasons as coach of the Utah Jazzbefore joiningthe Kings this season as the lead assistant under Malone. He twice played for the Kings during his 16-year playing career -- with 13 stops spanning nine cities -- from 1985 to 2001.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.