Tom Thibodeau just took the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals, the deepest playoff march in 25 years for a franchise that re-emerged as a contender after he became their coach.

For that, he was fired.

The Knicks made what they called a “difficult decision” to move on from Thibodeau on Tuesday, believing it was a necessary step in their chase for a championship.

“Ultimately we made the decision we feel is best for our organization moving forward. Tom will always be a part of our Knicks family and we truly wish him nothing but the best in the future,” team president Leon Rose said in a statement.

The Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers with a loss in Game 6 on Saturday night, falling two games short of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

It’s a strange decision by the Knicks, who had been one of the league’s worst franchises for most of the 2000s until Thibodeau was hired in 2020. He promptly led the Knicks to the playoffs in his first season, winning his second NBA Coach of the Year award, and they have been a solid contender in the East in recent seasons. They gave Thibodeau a three-year contract extension last summer.

MLB

Mets call up prospect Mauricio >> The New York Mets are calling up prized infield prospect Ronny Mauricio from the minors.

Mauricio’s promotion comes after third baseman Mark Vientos appeared to get injured late in Monday night’s victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Rated for years among the top 100 prospects in baseball and a jewel in the organization, Mauricio made his major league debut in September 2023 and batted .248 with two home runs, nine RBIs and seven stolen bases in 26 games that year.

Yankees place Weaver on IL >> Yankees closer Luke Weaver was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained left hamstring sustained while warming up at Dodger Stadium last weekend, an injury that likely moves Devin Williams back into New York’s closer’s role.

New York made six roster moves before series opener against Cleveland, also activating infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. and right-hander Fernando Cruz from the injured list, recalling right-hander Yerry de los Santos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, optioning infielder Jorbit Vivas to the RailRiders and designating right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment.

D’backs put Burnes on IL >> Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes was put on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, two days after leaving a start early against the Washington Nationals.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Burnes is seeking a second opinion after having an MRI and had no definitive news before the Diamondbacks played the Braves.

NFL

Vikings’ Marshall dies at 87 >> Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall, one of the four members of the famed Purple People Eaters front that formed the backbone of four Super Bowl teams, died after a long hospitalization for an undisclosed illness. He was 87.

The Vikings announced Marshall’s death on behalf of his wife, Susan. The native of Kentucky, who played at Ohio State and was drafted in 1960 by the Cleveland Browns, played 19 of his 20 seasons in the NFL with Minnesota. The two-time Pro Bowl pick set a league record for position players with 282 consecutive games played, a mark held by Marshall until quarterback Brett Favre broke it, coincidentally, with the Vikings in 2010.

Soccer

Peyton Manning joins NWSL Denver’s ownership group >> Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning became the latest sports celebrity to join the ownership group of Denver’s National Women’s Soccer League expansion team.

Manning follows two-time Olympic champion ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin, who was announced as an investor last month in a club that will make its debut next season.

Manning and Shiffrin join an NWSL group in Denver led by controlling owner Rob Cohen. Denver was awarded the NWSL’s 16th team earlier this year.

Olympics

Indianapolis to host swimming trials in 2028 >> The 2028 U.S. Olympic swimming trials will return to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium after drawing record-breaking crowds last year in the first event held inside a football stadium.

Last year, more than 285,000 fans attended the nine-day trials. That was a 60% increase over previous events. Single session records also were shattered as television ratings increased 20% from the previous team trials in 2021. Organizers estimated the event helped generate $132 million in revenue for the city.