Reports: Kings fire Malone

Just 24 games in the season, the Sacramento Kings fired coach Michael Malone, multiple media outlets reported late Sunday night.

Lead assistant coach Tyrone Corbin reportedly will take charge of the team on an interim basis.

Sacramento (11-13) is riding a three-game losing streak and is in the midst of a 2-8 skid. The Kings opened the season with five wins in their first six games.

The recent slump largely coincides with the absence of DeMarcus Cousins. With the center sidelined due to viral meningitis, the Kings are 2-7 over the past nine games.

In Malone’s first season behind the Sacramento bench in 2013-14, the Kings went 28-54.

Corbin has previous head-coaching experience with the Utah Jazz from February 2010 until he was fired in April 2014. He posted a 112-146 record, and he led the team to the 2012 playoffs (a four-game, first-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs).

Sacramento dropped home games to the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The Kings’ next game is at home Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.