Houston Rockets fire coach Kevin McHale following 4-7 start

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston Rockets have fired head coach Kevin McHale, abc13 Sports has learned. JB Bickerstaff will serve as interim head coach with Chris Finch taking over as associate head coach.

The decision comes as the Rockets start the season just 4-7, putting them in 11th place overall in the Western Conference. The Rockets rank 24th in offensive efficiency and 29th in defensive efficiency this season.

The Rockets have failed to reach 100 points during their current four game losing streak. They are also averaging 20 fewer points in their losses overall this season.

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Houston Rockets' James Harden (13) and head coach Kevin McHale talk during a game against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Jan. 21, 2015.

AP Photo/ Jeff Chiu

McHale was in his fifth season with Houston and is coming off an 82-56 season where the Rockets reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1997. The 57-year-old Hall of Fame player went 193-130 with the Rockets and was in the first year of a three-year extension worth more than $12 million he signed in December.

Kevin McHale by the numbers, through the years. (AP Photos)

Social media was quick to react to the news, including Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons.

The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this report.

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