The Latest Breaking News from Billy Donovan

Bulls coach Billy Donovan first messed with the idea of playing Nikola Vucevic and Tristan Thompson together in a practice Wednesday in Miami, debuted it Thursday in Atlanta in the second quarter and started them Friday. Will it have staying power? Thompson seems to think so.

As rookies enter the final turn of the NBA season, their progress typically is accompanied by bated breath as fans await their crash into an invisible phenomenon: the rookie wall.

Coach Billy Donovan pointed out that the coaches will keep LaVine away from players who run through a lot of actions from set to set, but “he’s still got a job to do.’’

CHICAGO — With each step they take toward the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls provide less confidence to the most important postseason question: Can they beat the best teams in the NBA?

With the 112-99 loss to the Heat, the Bulls dropped to 1-11 against teams with a .600 winning percentage or higher. Coach Billy Donovan was not only squashing excuses on Monday, but hoping his players were learning some tough lessons.

Both players continued testing their surgically-repaired wrists on Monday, getting in some extra work after the morning shootaround. Coach Billy Donovan said they both will be re-evaluated in about two weeks, and then he expects to have a better timetable for a return.

CHICAGO — The Memphis Grizzlies found a rare streak of mortality in DeMar DeRozan on Saturday night at the United Center, snapping his NBA-record eight-game streak of 35-point games with at least 50% shooting and ending the Chicago Bulls’ six-game winning streak.

The Bulls’ defense is completely different when Caruso is on the floor, and while he still has some steps to complete in order to return from right wrist surgery, a big one comes next week when he starts dribbling and shooting.

The Bulls have 22 regular-season games left, and while Donovan will take the win over the Hawks on Thursday — in which DeMar DeRozan stayed hot — he’s asking his players to be better.

As Williams continues basketball activity, the Bulls have to decide if they want him back as a starter or a reserve. Discussions are ongoing, including a staff talk Thursday.

CHICAGO — It has been nearly 15 years since Billy Donovan first tried to get Tristan Thompson on his team — a fact the new Chicago Bulls center wasted no time teasing his coach about Wednesday.