Phoenix Suns Fire Coach Jeff Hornacek after Loss to the Mavericks

The Phoenix Suns have reportedly fired head coach Jeff Hornacek Sunday night after a 91-78 loss against the Dallas Mavericks.

League sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical that general manager Ryan McDonough delivered the news to Hornacek upon his arrival in Phoenix after the Suns lost their 14th straight away game. The Suns have lost 19 of their last 21 games.

Hornacek, who was in his third year with the Suns, has not been able to turn the season over, especially without two of his top assistants, who ownership fired last month. One of the assistants, Mike Longabardi, has since been hired as the top assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since the Suns season continued to move downhill, sources said ownership was forced to discuss a coaching change.

Per ESPN.com:

"Sources had told ESPN in late December that the Suns, despite the organization's well-known fondness for Hornacek, were forced to contemplate a coaching change far sooner than they hoped because of a slide that had dropped them to 11th place in the Western Conference. There also was a growing fear within the organization that the team was no longer responding to its head coach."

Hornacek signed on with the Suns in 2013. During his first year, he led the Suns to winning record of 48-34. In that season, Hornacek was named the runner-up NBA Coach of the Year. He had lost to San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich. In his second season, the team finished with a losing record of 39-43.

The 14-35 Suns have also been playing without key players, particularly Eric Bledsoe, whose season ended with a knee injury. Power forward Markieff Morris has also reportedly continued to express his unhappiness with the organization after the Suns traded his twin brother, Marcus in the offseason.

The Suns have plans on Monday to interview their assistants Corey Gaines, Earl Watson and Nate Bjorkgren in order to choose an interim coach.