EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Byron Scott was fired Monday as coach of the New Jersey Nets, the team he led to the NBA Finals the past two seasons.

Scott's agent, Brian McInerney, confirmed the dismissal to The Associated Press. Assistant coach Lawrence Frank was expected to replace Scott, ESPN.com reported, citing league sources.

The Nets scheduled a ``major'' afternoon news conference Monday, but team spokesmen would not comment on the subject.

Scott was in his third season with the Nets and was in the final year of his contract.

``He has absolutely no resentment or anger,'' McInerney said. ``He's going down as the winningest coach in Nets' history.''

McInerney said Scott met with Nets president with Rod Thorn on Monday.

``They discussed the situation and both concluded that the timing of the move is to the benefit of the team,'' McInerney said. ``They decided another voice needed to be heard in the locker room.''

Management had refused to give him an extension while the team was for sale. It was sold Friday to developer Bruce Ratner, who plans to move the team to Brooklyn.

A source in the Nets' front office, speaking of condition of anonymity, told the AP the decision to fire Scott was reached after Friday night's loss to Miami.

The source said All-Star guard Jason Kidd spoke to management Saturday and said the team need a change in leadership.

The Nets (22-20), in first place in the Atlantic Division, next play Tuesday night at Philadelphia.

Scott was ejected during the third quarter of Sunday's 110-91 victory over the Boston Celtics, which ended a five-game losing streak and kept New Jersey from dropping to .500.

Kidd, an All-Star guard, clashed with Scott last month after a 47-point loss at Memphis, and Scott led the Nets to five victories in their next six games. That earned him the NBA's coach of the month award.

Scott holds the franchise record with 149 coaching victories. After a 25-56 record in his first season, the Nets went 52-30 in 2001-02 and 49-33 in 2002-03 _ losing to the Lakers and the Spurs in the finals.

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AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed to this report.