Preview: Wizards play Bulls on Tuesday

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 22: Jalen Smith #25 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates scoring during the second half against the Washington Wizards at the United Center on November 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards are coming off a frustrating loss to the Brooklyn Nets, but one that essentially will guarantee them a top 4 pick in this year’s Draft Lottery.

They now play a double-header at home against the Chicago Bulls.

That’s right, two games against the same team in the same place.

Here’s the preview.

Game Info

When: Tuesday, April 7 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington D.C.

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injury Report

Wizards: Justin Champagnie, Tristan Vukcevic, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Whitmore (Out)

Bulls: Nick Richards, Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, Anfernee Simons, Jalen Smith, Zach Collins, Noa Essengue (Out)

Pregame notes

Minutes for the youngsters — This is long the time of year where winning is secondary, and roster management and player development are primary. The Wizards have been on a historic losing run, with only a couple of wins in the stretch since the All-Star Break. Understandably, as they executed a number of trades that netted them injured players.

The Direction-Less Bulls — It’s almost comforting to play the Bulls, even twice in a row this week, as this is one of those teams that makes the Wizards not look too bad. The Bulls have been in that 30-40 win bracket for forever, and seem to never be able to properly rebuild or reposition. Let’s hope the Wizards soon start looking with a direction and a purpose after several years of a rebuild.

Draft Lottery — So the Wizards are 2 games back of the Nets. In the remaining 4 games the Wizards face Chicago (twice), Miami, and Cleveland. The Nets play Milwaukee (twice), Indiana, and Toronto. But that important loss to the Nets, means that the Nets also won the season series against the Wizards 3-1. Be it as it may, it is unlikely the Wizards will surpass the Nets in the standings.

Flashback: The Wizards beat the Bulls on a Beal game-winner (but not buzzer beater)

Just a few years back, Beal hit a rare game-winning shot (with about 8 seconds left in regulation) to give the Wizards the W against the Bulls. Since Beal did not do that too often I like to be reminded of it. Oh, and Kuzma was a Wizard not long ago too!

What treatment is Luka Doncic doing in Spain that he can’t do in the U.S.?

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looking on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Image 2 shows LeBron James on the court, holding his ankle in pain during a game, Image 3 shows Kobe Bryant lying on the basketball court in his Lakers uniform, grimacing and holding his right ankle after an injury

Luka Doncic dragged his hamstring through an entire half of basketball last Thursday against the Thunder, tugging at it repeatedly as if it was a loose thread on a championship dream, until he seriously injured it midway through the third quarter. 

By the time Doncic limped off the floor, the Lakers weren’t just down their best player, their season was teetering on the brink. 

After an MRI in Dallas the next day, Doncic was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that comes with a recovery timeline of four to six weeks.

Now he’s in Spain, and that should tell you everything you need to know about what Doncic is trying to do in order to return to the court as soon as possible to help the Lakers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. 

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images

Doncic looked like the best player on the planet in the month of March.

He looked every bit like the NBA’s Most Valuable Player through that stretch of the season, scoring 600 points and leading the Lakers to a 15-2 overall record. Without him on the floor, the Lakers are in trouble — as evidenced by their 134-128 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Easter Sunday. 

That’s why Doncic is not rehabbing at home or at the Lakers’ training facility in El Segundo. You won’t see him sitting courtside in designer clothes for the final four games of the regular season. 

Instead, he’s chasing the kind of regenerative treatments that are not available in the United States, and could be the difference between watching Doncic on the court in the NBA Playoffs and missing them entirely. 

When a franchise cornerstone leaves the country for treatment on a hamstring injury, it raises the question: what does Spain or Europe have that the U.S. doesn’t?

Under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, players and their respective teams have autonomy over their treatment, as long as they’re not utilizing a banned substance. Therefore, by seeking treatment for his injury in Spain, Doncic isn’t breaking rules; he’s utilizing a medical tool box that is much bigger than what we have available in the U.S. 

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the floor after a play during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images

Platelet-rich plasma therapy. Stem cells. Exosomes. Regenerative therapies that live in the gray space between innovation and regulation.

In the United States, those options are restricted, filtered through the slow churn of FDA approval.

In Europe — particularly in countries like Spain, Germany, and Switzerland — there’s more flexibility and potentially more reward. 

And Doncic is not the first prominent athlete, NBA player, or even Lakers superstar to seek treatment for an injury outside of the U.S. 

Kobe Bryant boarded a plane to Germany in 2011 chasing platelet-rich plasma therapy when his knee was failing him. It worked. Years later, he went back again, this time for his Achilles. Anything to gain an edge in his recovery timeline. 

LeBron James did something similar in 2023, quietly consulting a specialist overseas when his foot injury threatened to end his season. He returned without surgery and pushed the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds his ankle after going down with an injury on March 20, 2021. AP

Different bodies. Different injuries. Same idea.

The difference now? The stakes are sharper.

Doncic isn’t an aging veteran trying to extend his window. He is the window. He is the engine, identity, and gravitational force of the Lakers.

Without him — and without Austin Reaves, who is sidelined with his own 4–6 week injury — the Lakers aren’t just short-handed. They’re in full-on survival mode. 

Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick told reporters before the loss to the Mavericks that the goal of both players is to return. But the Lakers might need to win a first-round playoff series against Minnesota or Houston without them for that to happen.

“It’s our job to extend the season so both those guys can get back,” said Redick. 

Luka Doncic and head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 12, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

ESPN reported on Monday that Doncic was in Spain to undergo what was described as an “injection procedure,” meant to accelerate healing and recovery. 

According to Dr. Evan Jeffries, a certified physical therapist and co-host of the “The Hoops Rehab Show,” that injection and treatment plan likely is some combination of “stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, or more advanced regenerative techniques” that are not available in the U.S. the same way they are in Spain. 

“Stem cells can be more manipulated to increase their potency in Spain. Same with PRP,” Jeffries told The California Post. “Theoretically, he [Luka Doncic] could cut his timeline in half.”

Jeffries also added that Doncic would likely also undergo high-power laser therapy (HPLT), red-light therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), SoftWave therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and cupping during his treatment in Spain, these are also available in the U.S. 

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images

All of this is indicative of Doncic’s desire to return to the court as fast as possible in order to help his team chase their championship dreams. His treatments will take hours upon hours of daily work to attack his hamstring injury from every conceivable angle. 

Doncic’s strategy for his treatment is certainly bold and aggressive. Hamstrings are notoriously fickle.

This is the fifth hamstring injury he’s dealt with in his career, after he was sidelined in February for four games for a hamstring injury as well. Soft-tissue injuries heal on their own time and come with a higher chance of reaggravation. They are also the protector of the ACL, increasing the risk of a knee injury when the hamstring is not fully healthy.

But if Doncic’s treatment in Spain works, and it cuts his timeline for recovery in half, then not only would he be able to help his team in the first-round of the playoffs, but also beyond should they be fortunate enough to advance. 

But if it doesn’t work, the Lakers are likely looking at a first-round exit without him.


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Dan Hurley outfit: Why UConn coach wears same suit for March Madness games

Dan Hurley is coaching in his third national championship game in the last four Men's NCAA Tournaments, something that hasn't been done since Mike Krzyzewski did it in the 1990s.

He'll do so with a suit that is on its last legs.

The Connecticut basketball coach, known to be superstitious, will rock the same outfit he has for each of the Huskies' last five wins in March Madness vs. No. 1 Michigan on Monday in Lucas Oil Stadium, even though his suit jacket is in need of seeing a tailor.

"I'm going grimy," Hurley told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander after UConn's Final Four semifinal win over No. 3 Illinois on Saturday.

Hurley rocking the same suit through the entire Men's NCAA Tournament isn't something new for the two-time national championship coach. He's been rather open about his superstitions over the years in March Madness. Remember the good luck dragon boxers? He's also thrown holy water along baselines for a sign of good luck.

Another superstition of Hurley's is wearing a holy beads bracelet that he has been wearing for every game that he has coached in, going back even as far as his days as a high school basketball coach in North Jersey. He almost didn't have the beads with him for the Illinois game, as his wife, Andrea Hurley, had to rush back to the team hotel to grab them.

"He got this bracelet years and years ago in church. They're holy beads from Jerusalem, so they said," Andrea Hurley told CBS Sports on Sunday during an interview. "I had to leave the arena last night, run in the rain, grab the beads ... and then I got a police escort."

Here's a look at Hurley coming off the court on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, where he's talking about his jacket with UConn Sports Information Director Bobby Mullen, and even told Mullen to look at his jacket:

Morez Johnson Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Michigan's Morez Johnson Jr.  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Morez Johnson Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 26 overall, Los Angeles Lakers

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the best two-way players in the NCAA. He is a crucial part of the Michigan identity this season, leading his team to an appearance in the NCAA mens basketball national championship game, and has thrived since transferring to the Wolverines from Illinois. Johnson's shooting form at the free throw line looks good, and he scores well near the rim, especially when cutting to the basket. The former FIBA U-19 Team USA standout and All-Big Ten big man is a trustworthy defensive playmaker, too, and should find minutes at the next level.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Morez Johnson Jr. player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Forward
  • Current Team: Michigan
  • 13.1 points per game
  • 7.2 rebounds per game
  • 1.1 assists per game
  • 62.8 field goal percentage
  • 37.9 three-point field goal percentage

Los Angeles Lakers 2026 projected draft picks

  • No. 25

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Morez Johnson Jr. NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

Darryn Peterson NBA mock draft projection: Where Kansas star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Kansas's Darryn Peterson  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Darryn Peterson 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 3 overall, Brooklyn Nets

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Nets have the worst offense in the NBA and could change the course of the franchise by selecting Peterson. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson did while holding a usage rate as high as his was this season.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Darryn Peterson player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Guard
  • Current Team: Kansas
  • 19.8 points per game
  • 4.4 rebounds per game
  • 1.7 assists per game
  • 44.2 field goal percentage
  • 38.4 three-point field goal percentage

Brooklyn Nets 2026 projected draft picks

  • No. 4, No. 34 and No. 44 (via LAC)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darryn Peterson NBA mock draft projection: Where Kansas star is expected to land after March Madness

Yaxel Lendeborg NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Yaxel Lendeborg 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 8 overall, Memphis Grizzlies

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Grizzlies could add to their rebuilding core after trading away Jaren Jackson Jr. by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg, who has shown on his way to the mens collegiate national championship game that he is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in this draft class. The Big Ten Player of the Year offers a bit of everything on both sides of the ball and has silenced skeptics who were unsure how his game would scale after transferring from mid-major UAB to high-major Michigan. The Grizzlies have drafted players with similar trajectories like Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Yaxel Lendeborg player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Forward
  • Current Team: Michigan
  • 17.7 points per game
  • 11.4 rebounds per game
  • 4.2 assists per game
  • 52.2 field goal percentage
  • 35.7 three-point field goal percentage

Memphis Grizzlies 2026 projected draft picks

  • No. 8, No. 19 (via ORL) and No. 31 (via IND)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yaxel Lendeborg NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

Cade Cunningham upgraded to doubtful, coach hopes he can play before season's end

Cade Cunningham was upgraded from "out" to "doubtful" before Detroit's Monday night game in Orlando, but he did not take the court. What that showed, however, is that he is close to a return from a collapsed lung, and the Pistons' All-Star could play before the end of the season.

Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said pregame he hopes that Cunningham, as well as injured big man Isaiah Stewart — also upgraded to doubtful but not playing in the game due to a calf strain — can play in at least one more game before the season ends, via Omari Sankofa, Detroit Free Press.

"There's no way to replicate what a game is other than playing the game… especially ramping up to the intensity of playoff basketball, it would be beneficial for the guys, and the group."

Cunningham has been out since March 17, when he collided with Wizards' rookie Tre Johnson diving for a loose ball. That led to Cunningham's collapsed lung, which was expected to keep him out through the end of the season. Detroit has gone an impressive 8-2 without Cunningham and, as a result, has locked up the No. 1 seed in the East.

Cunningham, however, will fall short of the 65 games needed to qualify for postseason awards. He very likely would have been in the top five in MVP voting and made First Team All-NBA. Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds a game this season.

Aday Mara NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Michigan's Aday Mara  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Center's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Aday Mara 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 20 overall, San Antonio Spurs

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

After leading his team to the collegiate national championship game, Michigan center Aday Mara became one of the prospects who helped himself the most during March Madness. The 7-foot-3 big man, who transferred from UCLA, is a fantastic rim protector. Opponents only attempted 20.9 percent of their field goals at the rim when the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was on the court, per CBB Analytics, which ranks near lowest among all NCAA players. He can also pass well, finding some awesome outlet looks in transition and at the rim. Especially in short spurts, Mara would make an excellent backup to Victor Wembanyama.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Aday Mara player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Center
  • Current Team: Michigan
  • 11.6 points per game
  • 6.9 rebounds per game
  • 2.3 assists per game
  • 67.4 field goal percentage
  • 25.0 three-point field goal percentage

San Antonio Spurs 2026 projected draft picks

  • No. 14 (via ATL), No. 35 (via UTA), No. 41 (via POR) and No. 48 (via MIA)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aday Mara NBA mock draft projection: Where Michigan star is expected to land after March Madness

Cameron Boozer NBA mock draft projection: Where Duke star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , Duke's Cameron Boozer  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Cameron Boozer 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 2 overall, Indiana Pacers

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was dominant during his first NCAA season, earning national collegiate player of the year. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, rival teams believe Boozer would be the "preferred selection" for the Pacers because of his "potential fit" alongside Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The ACC Player of the Year isnt a human highlight reel but he offers consistency and a diverse, impactful skill set. More importantly, he can bring a culture of winning after multiple championships in high school and an elite Duke team that made it to the Sweet 16 before a heartbreaking last-second loss.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Cameron Boozer player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Forward
  • Current Team: Duke
  • 22.5 points per game
  • 10.2 rebounds per game
  • 4.2 assists per game
  • 56.5 field goal percentage
  • 40.9 three-point field goal percentage

Indiana Pacers 2026 projected draft picks

  • No. 1

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cameron Boozer NBA mock draft projection: Where Duke star is expected to land after March Madness

Braylon Mullins NBA mock draft projection: Where UConn star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, UConn's Braylon Mullins  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Guard's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

Braylon Mullins 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 15 overall, Charlotte Hornets

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All-American, was a breakout star in the NCAA mens basketball tournament after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in March Madness history. Mullins continued to show a winning mentality, helping earn a spot in the collegiate national championship game. The Big East All-Freshman wing shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

Braylon Mullins player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Guard
  • Current Team: UConn
  • 12 points per game
  • 3.5 rebounds per game
  • 1.4 assists per game
  • 43.5 field goal percentage
  • 34.5 three-point field goal percentage

Charlotte Hornets 2026 projected draft picks

  • No. 13, No. 20 (via PHX) and No. 42 (via GS)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braylon Mullins NBA mock draft projection: Where UConn star is expected to land after March Madness

AJ Dybantsa NBA mock draft projection: Where BYU star is expected to land after March Madness

NBA general managers and scouts are heading home from the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament with plenty to think about after three weeks of incredible action on the court. Now they have to figure out which March Madness performances are indicators of future greatness and which are more of a mirage.

The 2026 NBA draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft , BYU's AJ Dybantsa  is expected to go in the first round. Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the Forward's draft night will play out.

Our draft order is based on ESPN's projected records and factors in trades, including swaps and protections.

AJ Dybantsa 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 1 overall, Washington Wizards

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

The Wizards have the second-worst offense in the NBA and could instantly inject life into their offense by selecting AJ Dybantsa, the NCAA scoring champion and Julius Erving Award winner. He emphasized that point during his one game for BYU in March Madness, putting up 35 points and 10 rebounds. The Big 12 Rookie of the Year led the nation in unassisted points scored (680) by a wide margin this season, per CBB Analytics. The emerging star also had 40 points against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament on March 10 and averaged 28.8 points per game over his final 17 appearances.

See USA TODAY's full mock draft 9.0 here

AJ Dybantsa player profile

(all stats as of March 15)

  • Position: Forward
  • Current Team: BYU
  • 25.3 points per game
  • 6.7 rebounds per game
  • 3.8 assists per game
  • 51.3 field goal percentage
  • 34.0 three-point field goal percentage

Washington Wizards 2026 projected draft picks

  • No. 3, No. 53 (via MIN) and No. 60 (via OKC)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AJ Dybantsa NBA mock draft projection: Where BYU star is expected to land after March Madness

Chicago Bulls fire GM, VP of basketball operations in front office shakeup

The Chicago Bulls are cleaning house in the front office.

Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have been fired, team president and CEO Michael Reinsdorf announced Monday, April 6.

"These decisions are never easy, especially when they involve people we respect both personally and professionally," Reinsdorf said in a statement posted on the Bulls' social media accounts. "We are grateful for their dedication and the work they've put in over the past six years. At the same time, we have not had the success our fans deserve, and it's my responsibility to go in a new direction."

Karnisovas and Eversley were brought on at the beginning of the 2020-21 NBA season and posted a 224-254 record over six seasons. They took big swings early on, such as making a blockbuster trade for center Nikola Vucevic during that first year and signing DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball in the summer of 2021.

The Bulls looked like the team to beat in the East at times early that season and held a 38-21 record at the All-Star break until knee injuries to Ball derailed the team – and the core never really recovered together. Their lone playoff appearance under Karnisovas was a first-round exit against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021-22 campaign.

When the Bulls began to move off of their current core, they failed to recoup any significant draft capital for DeRozan, Caruso or Zach LaVine. Karnisovas sold at this year's trade deadline, shipping off several talented players, including Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosumnu, in what he called an attempt "to get out of the middle."

The Bulls currently sit in 12th place in the East with a 29-49 record, their fourth consecutive year without a playoff appearance. They have won just five of 29 games since Feb. 1.

"This move is about positioning our team for sustained success moving ahead," Reinsdorf said Monday. "I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand your frustration. I feel it as well. I know this will take time, and I am fully committed to getting this right. At the Chicago Bulls, our focus remains on building a team that can compete at the highest level and ultimately contend for championships.

"We are committed to taking the necessary steps to move the Bulls forward in a way that makes our fans proud."

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago Bulls fire GM Marc Eversley, vice president Arturas Karnisovas

Cavs at Grizzlies open gamethread

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 15: Guard Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Rocket Arena on November 15, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Grizzlies 108-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the second straight day, a skeleton-crew version of the Cleveland Cavaliers is taking on a more skeleton crew version of the Memphis Grizzlies. Cleveland will be without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Max Strus. They will, however, have Sam Merrill, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley.

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

Go Cavs!

Chicago fires lead executives Arturas Karnisovas, Marc Eversley

After six seasons in charge — and seemingly that many re-inventions of the roster — the Chicago Bulls have fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas as well as general manager Marc Eversley.

"Arturas and Marc have led with a deep commitment to the Chicago Bulls. These decisions are never easy, especially when they involve people we respect both personally and professionally," Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. "We are grateful for their dedication and the work they've put in over the past six years. At the same time, we have not had the success our fans deserve, and it's my responsibility to go in a new direction. This move is about positioning our team for sustained success moving ahead. I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand the frustration. I feel it as well. I know this will take time, and I am fully committed to getting this right. At the Chicago Bulls, our focus remains on building a team that can compete at the highest level and ultimately contend for championships. We are committed to taking the necessary steps to move the Bulls forward in a way that makes our fans proud."

Former Bulls sharpshooter Kyle Korver, currently an assistant general manager with the Hawks, is one of the names league sources told NBC Sports is connected to the job. Other names that sources said were connected to the job early on include former Atlanta Hawks GM Landry Fields, current Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy (this may be more of a wish list play by the Bulls, it is highly unlikely Dunleavy leaves Golden State), current Minnesota GM Matt Lloyd (a Chicago native who worked for the Bulls for 13 years), and CAA agent Austin Brown (this would be following in the footsteps of the Lakers and Knicks, who hired former agents as GMs and had some success with them).

Whoever gets the title of next basketball head of operations can be aggressive this summer: The Bulls will have up to $65 million in cap space as well as a lottery pick. However, what they need more than anything is a direction, a clear plan — that is what has been lacking for the Bulls for years.

Regardless of who gets the job, the Bulls reportedly want to retain coach Billy Donovan, reports Marc Stein of the Stein Line.

The Bulls have been stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity under Karnisovas, making the playoffs just once in the past six years but finishing with at least 39 wins each of the four seasons previous to this one, meaning their draft picks were late in the lottery. Karnisovas built a team with potential early on, one that started 38-21 in the 2021-22 season, led by Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball. However, a serious injury to Ball, who was the glue of that team, left them floundering. It's also a roster that aged quickly and was never the same again.

This season, the Bulls pivoted and started to semi-embrace tanking — as it stands today, the Bulls at 29-49 have the ninth-worst record and a better than 50% chance of drafting in that slot — but they have floor-raising young players on the roster in Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. Part of Karnisovas' challenge, and the challenge for whoever is the next GM, is that ownership is rumored not to want to fully tank but also not pay the luxury tax for anything less than a contender.

The Bulls will want to move fairly quickly to get a new head of basketball operations in place, as we are just more than a month away from the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

It’s time for Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs Philadelphia 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 3: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 3, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

On Saturday afternoon, two things happened that Spurs haven’t seen much this season. One: the Spurs stars failed to make plays in crunch time and two: the Spurs lost the game. It really was a perfect preparation for the playoffs where the team worked through their mistakes and still almost won the game, but also learned that wasting possessions on the road in a playoff atmosphere can cost games. The biggest question for the Spurs coming into the playoffs is their lack of playoff experience, and the Denver game is as close to a playoff game as many of the players on the current have had, and there’s no way that they don’t learn from the experience.

Tonight, they face the Sixers, who have been hampered with injuries all season long but have a relatively clean sheet tonight, with Maxey playing with a splint on his injured finger and former Spur (in name only) Cameron Payne out with a hamstring injury. Joel Embiid and Paul George should be ready to go, but with Embiid, it’s always hard to know how well he’ll move until you see him on the court. They also have a decent cast of supporting characters, with Kelly Oubre and Dominick Barlow. Did you realize that Kyle Lowry was still in the league? I didn’t, but he doesn’t play a lot, so he shouldn’t be a factor tonight. The most exciting matchup to watch will be VJ Edgecombe against Dylan Harper as the two super rookies showcase their talents.

The Spurs have no listed injuries, which means that Victor Wembanyama had no lasting effects from his hard fall on Saturday, where it looked like he banged his head on the hardwood in Denver after being tripped. The Spurs are the more talented team in this matchup, and they should be focused after the loss. The Spurs have four games left in the season, and the standings are set (OKC will NOT lose 3 of their 4 remaining games), so the remainder of the season will be an opportunity for Coach Mitch to work on preparing the team so that the mistakes of a few days ago don’t recur once the playoffs start. The Spurs won’t know their playoff matchup until after the first game of the play-in tournament, so they need to focus on poise and decisiveness more than specific plays, and I’m sure that’s what they’re going to be working on tonight. OK, GO SPURS GO!!!

Game Prediction:

Dom Barlow will attempt to dunk on Victor Wembanyama. It will not go well for him.

San Antonio Spurs vs Philadelphia 76ers
April 6, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Streaming: NBA League Pass
TV: FanDuel Sports Southwest
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