MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Randy Wittman has been fired as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The termination comes two days after an embarrassing 23-point loss at home to the last-place Los Angeles Clippers.

Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale takes over on the bench.

Wittman played at Indianapolis Ben Davis High School and at Indiana University.

He also was a player and assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers.

The young T-wolves are 4-15 and riding a five-game losing streak in which the average margin of defeat has been nearly 17 points.

McHale picked Wittman to preside over the team's rebuilding following the trade of Kevin Garnett.

Minnesota went 38-105 since Wittman took over for Dwane Casey in January 2007.

This is the fourth NBA coaching firing this season.

(Copyright 2008 By The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)