Darnell Mayberry

DETROIT — How much is the Eastern Conference’s ninth seed truly worth? Before the dawn of the Play-In , ninth place meant you were the first team on the outside looking in on the 16-team postseason. But in today’s era, it’s become a place in the standings second-rate teams chase with the hope of catching fire and creating some postseason magic. Advertisement The are one of those teams. They happily clinched the ninth spot with over the on Thursday. The win assures the Bulls a home game in nex…

WASHINGTON — had appeared in only eight career games before Friday night. He’d logged 31 minutes, scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Then, in the second-to-last regular-season game, Sanogo assembled a 22-point, 20-rebound performance in the against the Washington . Sanogo, an undrafted rookie reserve center playing on a two-way contract, was flooded by congratulatory words from teammates and overcome with joy after the feat, which he accomplished in 35 minutes. “I can do this. I have…

NEW YORK — watches sides of fans don’t get to see. The breakout player of the season for the sees steadiness in his veteran teammate above all. “He never complains,” White said. “He just loves the game. He loves to hoop.” DeRozan finished this season as the ’s minutes leader after playing 44 minutes in the at New York on the final day of the regular season. DeRozan logged 2,988 total minutes, the third most of his career and his most since the 2013-14 season. Advertisement DeRozan, 34, becom…

This was supposed to be ’s moment. When his hometown stuck with him, rewarding him with a three-year, $21 million extension last summer despite his disappointing second season, . He did, crafting a career 2023-24 regular season, but one that will be incomplete if a right quad injury keeps him out of Wednesday’s Play-in Tournament game against the . Ayo Dosunmu testing his right quad contusion on the eve of the Bulls’ Play-in Tournament game against the Atlanta Hawks. Dosunmu missed the final fo…

The offense gave the more than they could handle en route to a 131-116 Play-In Tournament win on Wednesday. was a walking highlight reel of shooting, spinning and scoring as the Bulls guard finished with a career-high 42 points on 15-of-21 shooting. added 22 points and nine assists in the victory to eliminate the Hawks and set up a win-or-go-home matchup against the on Friday. Hurricane Coby 🌪️🌪️🌪️ — Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) Though White and DeRozan shined the brightest on the Bulls’…

MIAMI — After seeing their season hit the same dead end from a year ago, players no longer could toe the company line. One by one, the team’s best players came as close as they could to saying the quiet part out loud. They’re over continuity, and however it must happen. they’re ready for change. Advertisement The unified message emerging from the locker room is one the team’s management certainly will hear. The only question is whether the front office will ignore their players’ cries too. “We’…

OKLAHOMA CITY — On the eve of his playoff debut, couldn’t wait to take the court. “I’m very anxious,” the star said Saturday, ahead of Game 1 Sunday against the . “I’m ready to play, ready to get it on. I’m excited for it. I wouldn’t say nervous. But I’m anxious, for sure.” Advertisement Holmgren and the Western Conference’s top-seeded Thunder had six days off after closing the regular season last Sunday. Rest helped. Holmgren’s focus remained. He called the time off refreshing but said he did…

OKLAHOMA CITY — With a new crop of baby-faced assassins ready to take over the , employees of the West’s top-seeded prepared for a return of the ear-splitting environment established in the franchise’s first playoff appearance 14 years ago. Fans lined up outside the arena’s entrance two hours before Game 1 against the . The team placed white T-shirts on the backs of every seat and, sure enough, virtually every fan of the home team pulled theirs on, turning the blue seats inside Paycom Center in…

OKLAHOMA CITY — After helping throttle the , crashed his teammate’s postgame interview. Of course, that’s nothing new for the . The difference this time is Holmgren didn’t just stand in the background and bark as these exuberant young Thunder players are prone to do. Instead, Holmgren grabbed TNT sideline reporter Allie LaForce’s microphone and spoke. “He’s too humble to say it,” Holmgren said with his arm draped around Gilgeous-Alexander, “but this is the MVP right here. MVP of the league. I’…

NEW ORLEANS — In the moments immediately following the final buzzer of the ’s sweep of the , , Thunder players looked unfazed. They exchanged hugs and handshakes, gave each other pats on the backside and reserved the proper show of respect for the opponent they just dismantled and left discombobulated. Advertisement But the ’s youngest team, as spirited as they come, noticeably did not celebrate inside the Smoothie King Center on Monday night. In the Thunder’s minds, their journey is just starti…