Daughter of Rockets coach McHale dies

Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale watches the game with the New Orleans Hornets at the Toyota Center on October 12, 2012 in Houston, Texas. AFP FILE PHOTO

HOUSTON, Texas—The 22-year-old daughter of Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale has died, the NBA team said Sunday.

“I extend my deepest condolences to Kevin and Lynn for the loss of their beautiful daughter, Sasha, on Saturday afternoon,” Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in a statement.

“Kevin and Lynn are loving and dedicated parents who will need our continued support throughout this very difficult time. Our entire organization is mourning the McHale family’s loss and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

Kevin McHale took a leave of absence on November 10 because of what the team called a personal family matter.

Kelvin Sampson has been standing in as interim coach.

Neither the Rockets nor the McHale family gave the reason for McHale’s leave, but the Houston Chronicle reported that Alexandra “Sasha” McHale had long battled the auto-immune disease lupus.