Bulls fire Thibodeau

In five seasons under Tom Thibodeau, the Chicago Bulls soared to heights they had not reached since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were collecting championships.

They never got to the top with him and now he is out.

The Bulls fired Thibodeau on Thursday, parting ways with the strong-willed coach whose success on the court was overshadowed by his strained relationship with the front office.

"It is our strong belief that there needs to be a culture of communication that builds a trust throughout this organization . . . a culture where everyone is pulling in the same direction," general manager Gar Forman said. "When that culture is sacrificed, it becomes extremely difficult to evolve and to grow."

Thibodeau went 255-139, a .647 winning percentage, and was the 2011 NBA coach of the year.

Late Wednesday. Stephen Curry had 26 points and eight rebounds, and Harrison Barnes added 24 points as the Golden State Warriors advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years by beating the Houston Rockets, 104-90, in Oakland, Calif.

Dwight Howard led Houston with 18 points and 16 rebounds. But James Harden had a playoff-record 13 turnovers and 14 points on 2-of-11 shooting.

Sixers preseason. The 76ers will host the Brooklyn Nets in a preseason game at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., at 3 p.m. Oct. 10.