Byron Scott is NBA coach of the year

NEW YORK, April 29 (UPI) -- New Orleans Coach Byron Scott was voted the NBA's coach of the year after leading the Hornets to a record in wins and the team's first division title.

New Orleans, which played many of its home games in Oklahoma City the last two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, won 56 regular-season games en route to the NBA Southwest Division title.

"It has been a wonderful season for us coming back home to New Orleans and I am proud to be a part of this organization and to be the head coach of such a tremendous group of young men who excel both on and off the court," Scott said.

Scott was listed first on 70 of the 125 coach of the year ballots submitted by sports writers and broadcasters across the United States and Canada. Scott's 34 second-place and six third-place mentions gave him a total of 458 points.

Boston Coach Doc Rivers, whose Celtics had an NBA-record turnaround this season, was second with 23 first-place votes and 242 points. Houston's Rick Adelman, with 17 first-place votes and 193 points, was third.