Chicago Sports

The Chicago Bears are finalizing a trade that will send six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.

The Chargers are expected to send a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-rounder to the Bears in return for the 31-year-old Mack, a source said.

o Preview guide >> | Top 100 ranking >>
o Grading big deals >> | Who got tagged? >>
o Overrated, underrated >> | Team fits >>
o Deep positions >> | NFL execs on QBs >>
More NFL free agency coverage >>

The deal marks the first major move for new Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who was hired in January.

Mack arrived in Chicago via a blockbuster trade with the Raiders in 2018. That first season, he finished with 12.5 sacks and in second place in the AP Defensive Player of the Year vote. It was the only double-digit sack season he had in Chicago; he had six in 2021, but they came in seven games as he had season-ending foot surgery in November.

The Chargers were in need of help along the defensive line. They finished 30th in rushing defense in 2021, allowing 138.9 yards per game, and allowed the highest conversion rate on third down in the NFL (69%).

MackBosaSacks46.547.5NFL rank10thT-6thQB pressures221207NFL rank3rdT-4th– Last five seasons

Now, Mack will join four-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa in what will be a fierce combination in Los Angeles. Over the past five seasons, Mack and Bosa both rank top four in total defensive pressures. They both have exactly 12 strip-sacks over the last five seasons too, which is tied for sixth in the NFL.

Their presence will come at the perfect time for Los Angeles, with Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Derek Carr all opposing quarterbacks in a loaded AFC West.

Mack has three more seasons remaining on his contract and is owed $17.75 million in 2022, $22.9M in ’23 and $23.25M in ’24.

The Chargers will take on his full contract, a source told Schefter.

Read More

This is quite a fresh and mixed bag of teams Champaign will welcome for the Class 3A State Finals on Friday.

Yes, there is perennial power Simeon, the mega-program in search of its eighth state championship. So there is obvious familiarity across the state with coach Robert Smith’s program.

But Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin? Metamora? St. Ignatius? The only team with a single state basketball trophy of any kind is mighty Simeon.

Here is a quick rundown of what to watch this weekend in Class 3A.

How big of a favorite is Simeon?

The good news for the Class 3A field is this isn’t one of Simeon’s greatest teams. That should be a sigh of relief for the other three teams in Champaign.

But the Wolverines are clearly the favorite — and still a pretty big one as it makes the dip down from Class 4A to Class 3A this year.

Coach Robert Smith’s team will come at you defensively, starting with the quick and pesky guard trio on the perimeter in tone-setter Aviyon Morris, Jalen Griffith and Jaylen Drane. Plus, there is some rim protection on the back end with 6-8 Miles Rubin and 6-8 Wesley Rubin.

This team won’t be confused with some of the legendary Simeon teams of the past, but it’s one that can accomplish the very same thing those teams did: win a state championship.

A year too soon?

Metamora and Sacred Heart-Griffin were expected to be loaded — next year.

But these two somewhat surprising entrants in the Class 3A field are here and poised to gain a whole lot of experience in what looks to be the beginning of a potentially terrific two-year run.

Metamora starts three juniors and a sophomore, including leading scorer Tyson Swanson and its best prospect, Ethan Kizer. Metamora is getting a taste of a successful basketball run in this football town.

With five junior starters, Sacred Heart-Griffin will obviously be a Class 3A state title contender again next season.

Best 3A player playing in Champaign

Simeon’s Jaylen Drane was recently named to the Class 3A all-state team and is a Chicago Sun-Times all-area selection after leading the Wolverines in scoring. The 6-2 guard has been a big name since entering high school as one of the prized freshmen in the state three years ago. He’s still uncommitted.

Best 3A prospect playing in Champaign

Right there with Drane — and even better college prospects — are the Rubin brothers from Simeon. Both Miles Rubin and Wesley Rubin, a pair of 6-8 big men who have made significant strides over the course of the season, are among the top 15 prospects in the junior class in Illinois.

The two twins really do bring different strengths and attributes to the table for coach Robert Smith. More importantly for Simeon, they’ve both become more productive and impactful as the season has gone on.

Other top prospects to watch

Richard Barron, St. Ignatius

Another prospect in the junior class with Division I offers and interest. The big-bodied 6-5 wing leads the Wolfpack with 15.2 points a game and is a game-changer when he gets hot from the three-point line.

Don’t let his body fool you as he’s a lethal threat from three (77 made three-pointers on the year). Barron can change the complexion of a game with his shooting capability.

Ethan Kizer, Metamora

This is a fun player and prospect to watch. Kizer is a 6-6 junior who is a legitimate space-the-floor 4-man and an exciting player who plays above the rim. He can provide a jolt with his athleticism and good looking three-point shooting stroke (70 three-pointers made on the season).

Jake Hamilton, Sacred Heart-Griffin

An undervalued prospect due mostly to where he plays, Hamilton is an all-around guard who averages 15.3 points a game. He also chips in six rebounds and over three assists a game.

Playing on the biggest stage this weekend in Champaign is an opportunity to put his name on the radar. The 6-3 junior is a crafty lefty with a wide-ranging offensive game and some sneaky athleticism. He will stick mid-range, pull-up jumpers, get to the basket and has made 41 threes on the year.

Read More

CHAMPAIGN, IL-It might not be fair to say that Steeleville, Yorkville Christian’s opponent in the Class 1A state semifinals on Thursday, was just happy to be here.

But after listening to Liberty senior Devin Klauser it appears the Mustangs may be in for a much bigger challenge in the Class 1A state title game on Saturday.

Liberty coach Greg Altmix had to jokingly take the microphone away from Klauser in the press conference after his team beat Scales Mound 75-41 in the second semifinal.

Klauser had Yorkville Christian on his mind immediately after the victory. A reporter asked him about four turnovers that Liberty committed early in the game.

“We just wanted to give Yorkville some hope,” Klauser joked.

The Mustangs are overwhelming favorites in the title game. Yorkville Christian’s average margin of victory in their seven tournament wins so far is 44 points.

“We think we are going to beat them because, honestly, their defense is kind of sloppy,” Klauser said. “We’re just hoping that we hit them early and we can slow down the game and keep the lead. It’s going to be interesting. They are obviously a really good team but I think we can take them.”

Liberty (30-5) overwhelmed Scales Mound (35-3) with size. Logan Robbins, a 6-5 senior, and Breiton Klingele, a 6-4 senior, both start for the Eagles, and 6-6 Klauser comes off the bench.

“They defended well around the rim,” Scales Mound coach Erik Kudronowicz said. “Their effort and energy, especially in the lane, was just difficult for us.”

Klauser led Liberty with 22 points and Klingele added 17. Ben Werner scored 15 for Scales Mound.

Altmix didn’t share Klauser’s bold confidence about the matchup against Yorkville Christian on Saturday.

“We’ve got a couple more 6-8, 6-9 guys coming in,” Altmix joked. “When they arrive I’ll have about ten guys I will be able to run out there.

“Yorkville Christian has an incredible team. You’re going to see us come out and give it everything we’ve got and give it our best. If it is good enough, great. If not, we will understand that we can walk off the court with our heads held high.”

Read More

MESA, Ariz. — Just before the last Collective Bargaining Agreement expired, the Cubs made the acquisition that defined their pre-lockout offseason.

They agreed to a three-year, $71 million deal with right-hander Marcus Stroman, elevating their starting rotation hours before the Major League Baseball owners imposed the lockout.

The Cubs couldn’t have known then that the lockout would last about 100 days, with MLB and its players union agreeing to a labor deal Thursday, according to multiple reports. That timeline made it the second-longest work stoppage in MLB history. The new CBA will still have to be ratified.

Next, the Cubs and 29 other big-league clubs, will be able to resume their interrupted offseason. And it’s an important one for the North Side team that traded away most of its stars last summer. The Cubs’ next moves will set their course for their buildup after the teardown.

“I don’t know what the definition of a rebuild is,” Hoyer said after the trade deadline. “I think you should wait until you see what we do this winter until you decide what we’re going to do (moving forward).”

The Rangers were the biggest players on the pre-lockout free agent market, committing $561.2 million in four signings. By comparison, the Cubs were far from making tidal waves, but they did make progress toward assembling a competitive pitching staff.

“Obviously, with the potential lockout, the Dec. 1 date, you never know how people would react,” Hoyer told reporters before the CBA expired. “We didn’t know if no one would make any signings or if it would be a flurry, and it ended up being a flurry. And I think that flurry in particular was very focused on pitching. I feel very good that we added two starting pitchers prior to Dec. 1.”

The Cubs started by acquiring outfielderHerold Ramirez from the Guardians in November. Then, they claimed leftyWade Miley off waivers, signed free agent catcher Yan Gomes and outfielder Clint Frazier, and re-signed outfielder Michael Hermosillo. But by signing Stroman on the eve of the lockout, the Cubs transformed their early offseason from innocuous to at least notable.

The offseason is far from over. The condensed timeline isn’t expected to put a damper on the amount of activity.

The Cubs have addressed one priority – its largely inexperienced starting rotation in the second half of the season posted a National League-worst 5.99 ERA, according to FanGraphs. But they could still add starting pitching, need bullpen depth and will have to decide what to do at shortstop.

Adding relievers became even more important this week, when right-hander Codi Heuer underwent Tommy John surgery Monday. He’ll miss the 2022 season.

As for shortstop, middle infielder Nico Hoerner could take over the position. But in his young career, which has spanned a pandemic-shortened season and a series of minor injuries, Hoerner has yet to play 50-plus games in a season.

The Cubs could add more middle infield depth, also keeping in mind that second baseman Nick Madrigal is returning from season-ending surgery on a hamstring tear.

They could also sign an established shortstop. But don’t forget how competitive the market is for free agents like Carlos Correa. Corey Seager, also at the top of a deep shortstop free agent class, signed a 10-year, $325-million deal with the Rangers before the lockout. Will the Cubs be willing to commit that kind of money or more?

It’s far too early to judge the Cubs’ offseason – or by Hoyer’s logic, define this post-Anthony Rizzo/Javy Baez/Kris Bryant phase. The club’s moves before Opening Day will have the final say.

Read More

We are here, the final weekend of the season with four teams fighting for a state championship in Class 4A.

With the most important games of the season set to be played, the State Finals in Champaign will provide a platform for several of the state’s top players.

Five Class 4A stars to watch in Champaign

Braden Huff, Glenbard West

The biggest name, tallest player and most highly-regarded prospect in Champaign this weekend.

Huff, the Sun-Times Player of the Year, is a rare talent at 6-11 who is often the de facto point guard. The Gonzaga recruit is a game-changing offensive orchestrator as a gifted passer with three-point range and post-up threat around the rim.

Caden Pierce, Glenbard West

The 6-5 Pierce is arguably the most disruptive perimeter defender in the state. WIth his size, length and high activity level, he’s a menacing figure atop the vaunted 1-3-1 Glenbard West defense. He plays with a relentless defensive mindset.

While he’s an elite defender, Pierce, who is headed to Princeton, boasts an impressive physical profile and a versatile offensive game. He can score at the rim and knock a three down while handling some primary ball handling duties.

AJ Casey, Young

For a player who has been a prominent name in high school basketball since he entered high school, it’s only fitting he finishes his career on the biggest stage in the final weekend of the season.

Always a tantalizing 6-8 prospect throughout his high school career, Casey is playing consistent and productive basketball for the Dolphins. And he’s getting it done in a variety of ways.The long, athletic Casey

Xavier Amos, Young

People forget the 6-8 Northern Illinois recruit is one of the top 10 prospects in the state in the senior class. His combination of size and scoring acumen for a big man are impressive.

Amos runs the floor, finishes around the rim, can play with his back to the basket and has the capability to make plays in a variety of ways.

Will Grudzinski, Barrington

A Division III recruiting steal for Washington University in St. Louis, Grudzinski has been on a roll. The versatile 6-6 senior is averaging 19.1 points a game but has been huge down the stretch of the regular season and throughout the state tournament.

This is a heady, competitive player who can drain threes — he has knocked down 95 threes on the year — and slash to the rim off the dribble.

Five Class 4A unsung heroes to watch in Champaign

Dalen Davis, Young

He may be on the unsung list but Davis could be included in the above category when he’s locked in and playing well.

This is a Division I prospect in the junior class who makes the Dolphins go at the point guard position. His playmaking continues to evolve while becoming a scoring threat off the bounce.

Bobby Durkin, Glenbard West

There is a ton of talk about Glenbard West being loaded with homegrown talent and growing up playing together. But the value the Hilltoppers have received from the 6-6 Durkin, a transfer from Hinsdale South, has been a monstrous addition this season.

When the ball is moving crisply in the half court, it always seems to land in Durkin’s hands at the most opportune times — and back-breaking ones for opponents. Durkin is a major threat as a spot-up shooter from the three-point line. Plus, he’s crafty, smart and one of the better uncommitted prospects remaining in the senior class.

Paxton Warden, Glenbard West

A true definition of “unsung hero” for the state’s top-ranked team as Glenbard West’s fourth double-figure scorer. Warden, who plays with sneaky athleticism, does a little bit of everything for coach Jason Opoka.

He rebounds well, defends and spaces the floor with 66 three-pointers on the season. The Illinois walk-on recruit finds his points in unexpected ways in averaging 11.3 points a game.

Michael Osei-Bonsu, Bolingbrook

Osei-Bonsu is a true March underdog story, an undersized big man at 6-4 who plays a bruising style and produces. Although a relative unknown, he’s a consistent presence for the Raiders.

In addition to being a double-double machine averaging 11.8 points and 9.3 rebounds a game, he competes at a high level and takes up space defensively with his physicality.

Daniel Hong, Barrington

It’s impossible not to like and appreciate how Hong plays and all that he does for his team.

The tough and reliable Hong (12.3 ppg) is an intelligent floor general who commands an offense. Most importantly, he makes winning plays when it matters the most. The 6-2 senior will knock a three down, scrap for rebounds and loose balls while also setting the table for others.

Read More

CHAMPAIGN, IL-High school sports, for the most part, are about accentuating the positive. It’s a forum to celebrate the hard work and talents of the students.

So sometimes that great player you read about all season is quite a bit more flawed than anticipated when you see him in person.

That was not the case for Steeleville coach Aaron Fiene on Thursday.

“[Jaden Schutt] is as good as publicized,” Fiene said. “A lot of people get a lot of hype. He’s a stud.”

Yorkville Christian dispatched the Warriors 70-27 in the Class 1A IHSA state semifinals at State Farm Center.

Schutt’s talents were on display immediately. The Duke recruit opened the game with two three-pointers. Then he had a dunk. Then another three. The rest of the Mustangs started to get involved at that point.

Steeleville trailed 21-2 before it could even get its bearings.

“They are still kids, there are nerves,” Fiene said. “I was nervous too. [Yorkville Christian] probably had them too.”:

If the Mustangs had them it didn’t show. Senior KJ Vasser said that he was awake at 5 a.m. and eager to get going for the 10 a.m. start.

Schutt’s play showed that he wasn’t at all bothered by the stakes or the environment. The state’s best three-point shooter wouldn’t entertain any nonsense about different shooting backgrounds or a big arena impacting his game.

“The rim’s 10 feet,” Schutt said.

Schutt was 4 of 5 from three-point range. He finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.

Junior Brayden Long led Yorkville Christian (24-13) with 23 points and sophomore Jehvion Starwood added 10 points.

“We talk about ‘shock and awe’ as a slogan,” Mustangs coach Aaron Sovern said. “We have a reputation among the Class 1A community that we can get after it and we want to show that we can actually do that. It’s not just a myth.”

Yorkville Christian has steamrolled all the competition in the Class 1A state playoffs. The Mustangs’ average margin of victory in their seven tournament wins so far is 44 points.

“After the tough games against the New Trier’s and the St. Rita’s we reminded them that our goals have not changed,” Sovern said. “We are going to keep pushing forward and getting better. Credit to these guys, they have stuck with it. The senior leadership has been tremendous.”

Zach Mevert led Steeleville (29-7) with 10 points and Carter Wasson, the primary defender on Schutt, added eight points. He also believed that the Duke recruit lived up to his hype.

“[Schutt] was just ridiculous,” Wasson said. “He’s a great player.”

Steeleville is about 60 miles southeast of St. Louis. The school has 151 students. The Warriors’ overall mood in the postgame press conference was positive. There were no tears.

“It was just a great experience for these guys to go out and compete with the type of talent we were competing against,” Fiene said. “They did a real good job and made everybody proud. This is something these guys can talk about when they are our age. They can sit around and say we played a kid going to Duke and we battled with him.”

Yorkville Christian now has a day off before facing Liberty in the Class 1A state title game at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

“We are going to try and keep things as normal as possible,” Sovern said. “We’ll have practice tomorrow and there is an e-learning day at school.”

Yorkville Christian vs. Steeleville box score

Read More

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bruce Weber resigned as the basketball coach at Kansas State on Thursday, one day after the struggling Wildcats lost to West Virginia in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament to cap a third straight losing season.

He didn’t walk away quietly.

First, the long-time coach criticized the NCAA over its handling of the FBI probe into college basketball corruption. Then, Weber struck out at Kansas State fans who used social media to berate him and his program. And finally, he professed his desire to continue coaching, asking for “some (athletic director) out there who would appreciate a coach that graduates players, wins championships, supports the university and embraces the community.”

“I’ve been preparing for this for a long time,” said Weber, who had one year remaining on his contract. “I got into coaching — I got into teaching — because my dad and mom thought there was no better life than to help others. That’s been my goal.

“Hopefully I’ve impacted people and helped them with their lives so that now they can help others.”

The 65-year-old Weber was a largely unpopular pick to replace Frank Martin when he was hired by former athletic director John Currie in 2012, shortly after he was fired by Illinois. Weber was mulling mid-major jobs when Currie selected him to take over a program that had suddenly shot to national prominence on the back of six straight 20-win seasons.

Weber kept the momentum going for a while. He led the Wildcats to a share of the Big 12 title in his first season, made five NCAA Tournaments in his first seven seasons and added a share of another conference title just four years ago.

But the past few years have been a struggle, and all the hard-won support Weber had gained over most of the previous decade simply disappeared. He was forced to completely rebuild the roster after the 2019 season, then struggled to recruit at a level to get the Wildcats back to the point where they were competing for championships.

They went 9-20 last season and 14-17 this season, leaving Weber — who took the Illini to the national championship game in 2005 — with a 184-147 record with the Wildcats. His career mark, including a highly successful run at Southern Illinois that included two NCAA tourney appearances, stands at 407-301 with 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

“The negativity that surrounds K-State times is really sad to me,” Weber said. “This is the only school I’ve been associated with that I tell our recruits to avoid our social media. I’m afraid of what they’ll see. Hopefully that can change, maybe with the new coach, and everybody can be positive about K-State and K-State athletics.”

Weber made headlines following the loss to the Mountaineers at T-Mobile Center on Wednesday night when he lambasted the NCAA over its handling of the FBI probe over the past few years. Weber said he had refused to cut his silver hair until schools that were identified in the probe were punished, which some took as a swipe at rival Kansas.

The Jayhawks have appealed their penalties to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process, while another Big 12 member — Oklahoma State — is serving a postseason ban this year.

“We won titles. We did it the right way,” Weber said. “I’m on the NCAA ethics committee. I was told they were going to take care of the people in the FBI stuff, so I told somebody I’m going to grow my hair until something happens. Obviously, it’s still growing.

“That’s the sad part about our business,” Weber added. “Lon Kruger told me the other day, all the guys in the FBI (probe) except one are in the NCAA Tournament. All those teams are going to be in the NCAA Tournament.”

Yet the Wildcats will be sitting home for the third straight year, this time pondering their next head coach.

As for Weber, his immediate plans are to spend more time with his family, including four rambunctious grandkids. But it was his wife, Megan, who made sure that Weber wasn’t closing the door on coaching again.

“She said, ‘You’re not done. Don’t tell people you’re retiring,'” Weber said.

Read More

It’s finally here. After more than 700 days, the Illinois High School Association’s state basketball finals have returned. Both the venue and the format have changed.

The tournament has left Peoria, returned to Champaign, and will take place in the newly renovated State Farm Center. Champaign hosted the tournament from 1919 to 1995.

Crowds had dwindled in Peoria and a refresh was needed, so there’s a great deal of excitement around the return to Champaign. The new format has been less well-received. Many fans are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

All four classes will play over a three-day span. In the past, Class 1A and Class 2A had a two-day weekend tournament followed the next weekend by a two-day Class 3A and Class 4A tournament.

In the new format, Class 1A and Class 2A will play semifinals on Thursday and Class 3A and Class 4A will play semis on Friday. All four title games will take place on Saturday.

The IHSA decided to play the third-place games in the prime 7 p.m. slots on Thursday and Friday, which is odd. All the semifinals will be in the morning and afternoon.

Read More

It’s finally here. After more than 700 days, the Illinois High School Association’s state basketball finals have returned. Both the venue and the format have changed.

The tournament has left Peoria, returned to Champaign, and will take place in the newly renovated State Farm Center. Champaign hosted the tournament from 1919 to 1995.

Crowds had dwindled in Peoria and a refresh was needed, so there’s a great deal of excitement around the return to Champaign. The new format has been less well-received. Many fans are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

All four classes will play over a three-day span. In the past, Class 1A and Class 2A had a two-day weekend tournament followed the next weekend by a two-day Class 3A and Class 4A tournament.

In the new format, Class 1A and Class 2A will play semifinals on Thursday and Class 3A and Class 4A will play semis on Friday. All four title games will take place on Saturday.

The IHSA decided to play the third-place games in the prime 7 p.m. slots on Thursday and Friday, which is odd. All the semifinals will be in the morning and afternoon.

Read More

There are teams capable of flipping a switch when the game is primetime and the lights shine the brightest.

The Bulls aren’t one of them.

Wednesday night in Motown was just the latest example of that.

Lethargic late first quarter to let an 18-win team start to feel comfortable, going through the motions in the second to allow Detroit to take a lead into halftime, and then instead of coming out in the third quarter and put Nike’s on throats, more bad basketball and emotions flying in timeout huddles.

On a night in which DeMar DeRozan should have been laughing on the bench with eight minutes left in the game, towel on head, shoes untied, and a 20-point lead comfortably in his pocket, the 32-year-old was out there playing hero, bailing the Bulls out once again.

And while his 16 points in that final stanza was needed, it didn’t hurt that his teammates actually started kicking on the intensity on the defensive end, holding the Pistons to 17 points on 6-of-20 shooting and adding five steals.

“I thought when the fourth quarter hit it looked like a level of desperation the way we were playing,” coach Billy Donovan said. “That was good to see.”

Yeah, but it would have been nice to see for 48 minutes. Heck, 24 minutes would have been nice. And that remained the problem with this team.

Alex Caruso’s return is going to improve the defense without question, but he shouldn’t also be the reason that three All-Star players suddenly play with high energy from tip-off to final buzzer.

Not with just 16 games left in the regular season and so much at stake.

“At this point of the season, every game matters,” DeRozan said. “There’s no time for rest. We’ve got 16 games left, it’s crazy. It feels like we just started. Every one of these games is critical.”

Starting Saturday, when the Bulls host Cleveland in the first of two remaining meetings.

The up-and-coming Cavaliers are at least a year ahead of schedule, have earned a split with the Bulls in the first two meetings, and could be a first-round opponent in the postseason if the Bulls get hot and either Milwaukee or Philadelphia has a bad week.

Wins are key in March, but so is sending a message. Showing Cleveland that there’s a difference between contenders and pretenders will be essential. So while it starts with the Cavs, here are the other top five games left on the schedule.

1. Boston – Apr. 6 – The way it’s lining up, especially with the Bulls still having the toughest schedule left of the Eastern Conference teams, Bulls-Celtics is a very realistic first-round showdown. The two teams have split so far this season, but no team in the NBA has been better than Boston since the trade deadline.

2. At Milwaukee – Mar. 22 – Of the three teams ahead of the Bulls in the standings – Miami, Philadelphia and the Bucks – Milwaukee is likely the best matchup. Not that it says a lot since the Bulls are 0-2 against the defending champions, but both games have been tight.

3. Miami – Apr. 2 – It will be the last shot at the top-seeded Heat, and there’s a good chance that the Bulls will be close to full strength for it. They need to figure out a Miami defense that has given them fits, and this could be the last dress rehearsal to do just that.

4. At Phoenix – Mar. 18 – Could this be the return of Caruso? Just in time for the best in the West.

5. At Minnesota – Apr. 10 – An improved Timberwolves team awaits the Bulls in the finale, and as tight as the East has been this season in the standings, playoff positioning could come down to the last game.

Read More