Bulls opting for Iowa State’s Hoiberg

CHICAGO — The Bulls plan to introduce Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg as their new coach on Tuesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Hoiberg had long been rumored as the replacement for Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last week after five seasons in Chicago.

The Bulls said in a release they would make a major announcement on Tuesday.

Hoiberg went 115-56 with the Cyclones, including four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and back-to-back Big 12 tournament titles. He had open-heart surgery in April.

Before flying to Chicago to speak with the Bulls, Hoiberg acknowledged that several NBA teams had approached him about their vacancies in recent years.

Irving playing hurt for NBA Finals

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Kyrie Irving is resigned to not being 100 percent for the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

The All-Star guard has been kept out of portions of practice in the past few days as he continues to recover from tendinitis in his left knee, a condition that flared up earlier in the postseason and sidelined him from two games in the Eastern Conference finals.

Irving said he’s continued to receive treatment during the break before Game 1.

Warriors’ Thompson returns to practice

OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson is one step away from being cleared to play in the NBA Finals.

Thompson returned to practice, a major step in the All-Star shooting guard’s recovery. Thompson said he feels great and is just waiting on final clearance from doctors under the NBA’s concussion protocol to play in Game 1 against Cleveland.