Minnesota Timberwolves fire head coach Ryan Saunders after 7-24 start

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves have fired head coach Ryan Saunders, the team announced.

Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and The New York Times that the team is expected to hire Toronto Raptors assistant coach Chris Finch on Monday to replace Saunders.

"We would like to thank Ryan for his time and commitment to the Timberwolves organization and wish him the best in the future," Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said in a statement Sunday.

"These are difficult decisions to make, however this change is in the best interest of the organization's short and long-term goals."

The Timberwolves have lost 24 of 31 games this season and have the worst record in the NBA at 7-24. They are on a four-game losing streak, which includes a 103-99 setback to the New York Knicks on Sunday. Saunders learned of his dismissal after the loss.

Saunders -- the son of longtime NBA coach Flip Saunders, who coached the Timberwolves from 1995 to 2005 -- began is coaching career in 2009 as an assistant for the Washington Wizards. He joined the Timberwolves staff as an assistant in 2014 and was promoted to head coach during the 2018-19 season.

Saunders compiled a 43-94 record over his three-season tenure in Minneapolis.