DERRICK ROSE

Luka Dončić posted the best stat line of the season, but was that enough to make him the MVP favorite? Our NBA reporters debate that and more.

Being back in Chicago, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was bound to see familiar faces. But when Joakim Noah walked into the room, he couldn't help but rip him for being late.

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

Evan Fournier scored 26 points, Immanuel Quickley had 12 of his 14 in the fourth quarter after New York had blown a 25-point lead, and the Knicks beat a Los Angeles Lakers team missing suspended star LeBron James 106-100.

Julius Randle had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and the New York Knicks erased an early 21-point deficit and routed the Milwaukee Bucks 113-98.

Knicks Bulls Basketball New York Knicks center Taj Gibson, center, rebounds the ball against Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso, left, and forward Troy Brown Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh)CHICAGO — (AP) — Kemba Walker scored 21 points, RJ Barrett added 20 and the New York Knicks hung on to hand the Chicago Bulls their first loss of the season 104-103 on Thursday night. The Knicks had the edge in the second quarter, never lost the lead and were ahead 55-51 at the half. The Bulls narrowed New York's advantage to two points twice in the second quarter, but never caught up. Patrick Williams narrowed the Knicks’ lead to 57-56 with a pair of free throws early in the third quarter.

Kemba Walker scored 21 points, RJ Barrett added 20 and the New York Knicks hung on to hand the Chicago Bulls their first loss of the season 104-103.

Kemba Walker scored 19 points in his best game with his hometown team and the New York Knicks snapped a 15-game losing streak against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 112-99 victory.

Shaking off a spitting incident at Madison Square Garden, Trae Young dazzled in the first home playoff game of his career.

The commissioner’s office and the players’ association said Friday that three additional teams had reached the 85% level of having received final doses and would be able to relax protocols within the next two weeks once they are fully vaccinated. Relaxed protocols include dropping the requirements for facemasks in dugouts and bullpens, and loosening restrictions on mobility during road trips. MLB said more than 84% of all Tier 1 individuals -- such as players, managers, coaches, trainers and support personnel -- had been partially or fully vaccinated. ___The New York Knicks will sell tickets only to fully vaccinated fans if they reach the second round of the playoffs. More than 90% of those in attendance for the first two games of the series were fully vaccinated.

Hawks Knicks Basketball New York Knicks' Derrick Rose (4) makes a 3-point shot as Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) defends during the fourth quarter of Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in New York. (Elsa/Pool Photo via AP) (Elsa)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The New York Knicks will sell tickets only to fully vaccinated fans if they reach the second round of the playoffs. The Knicks announced Friday that Game 5 of their first-round series against Atlanta has already sold out, with more than 16,000 fans expected on Wednesday. More than 90% of those in attendance for the first two games of the series were fully vaccinated. Fans in fully vaccinated sections are not required to social distance or wear masks when seated, and those sections were full and loud in the Knicks’ first two playoff games since 2013.

The New York Knicks will sell tickets only to fully vaccinated fans if they reach the second round of the playoffs.

Celtics Knicks Basketball New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) celebrates with guard Derrick Rose (4) after an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in New York, Sunday, May 16, 2021. Now, after seven silent seasons, Game 1 of a first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night is shaping up as a Garden party. Atlanta interim coach Nate McMillan was fined $25,000 by the NBA this week after his comments that the league wants to see the Knicks successful. SIZING UP THE STYLESThe Hawks averaged 113.7 points, just outside the NBA's top 10 in scoring this season. Thibodeau said he is giving consideration to putting guard Frank Ntilikina into his rotation as the Knicks prepare to deal with Young.

It’s being hyped as the largest indoor event in New York since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with a crowd of 15,000 expected at Madison Square Garden.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic finished ninth in the MVP voting last season.

Talen Horton-Tucker made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 21.1 seconds remaining, and the Los Angeles Lakers improved their hopes of avoiding the play-in tournament and prevented the New York Knicks from clinching a postseason berth with a 101-99 victory.

Knicks Clippers Basketball New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (4) scores past Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, May 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Derrick Rose scored 25 points off the bench, Reggie Bullock added 24 and the New York Knicks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 106-100 on Sunday to snap an eight-game skid at Staples Center. Leonard's 3-pointer cut the Knicks' lead to 104-100, but Taj Gibson made a pair of free throws to seal it. The Knicks missed their first seven shots of the game while the Clippers raced to a 10-point lead. UP NEXTKnicks: Stay in Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Tuesday night.

Derrick Rose scored 25 points off the bench, Reggie Bullock added 24 and the New York Knicks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 106-100 to snap an eight-game skid at Staples Center.

Julius Randle had 31 points and 10 rebounds, RJ Barrett had 25 points and 12 boards, and the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 120-103 for their ninth straight victory.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle shoots over Orlando Magic center Khem Birch (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, Pool)NEW YORK – Julius Randle recorded his third triple-double of the season with 18 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the New York Knicks to a 94-93 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. Evan Fournier scored 23 points but Reggie Bullock stole his pass on Orlando's final possession as the Magic dropped their ninth straight. ...Instead of reading the play, I starting the play (thinking) ahead and I was anticipating (the Knicks double-teaming on a pick-and-roll). “I was going to find my teammates.”The Knicks held Orlando to 42.7% shooting from the field and 29.4% from 3.

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) looks to pass over Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)DETROIT – Blake Griffin's time in Detroit is over, another significant step in a rebuilding process that has the Pistons at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The veteran forward and the Pistons have agreed to a contract buyout, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the move was not yet official. Griffin, who turns 32 later this month, came to Detroit in a trade during the 2017-18 season. Detroit traded big man Andre Drummond around this time last year, and the team's offseason reshuffling left Griffin as one of the few holdovers.

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) looks to pass over Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons are taking another step in their rebuilding process, planning to part ways with Blake Griffin. Detroit is 8-19 this season, and Griffin has already missed seven games. “I am grateful to the Pistons for understanding what I want to accomplish in my career and for working together on the best path forward," Griffin said. Griffin, who had knee surgery last year, played just 18 games last season.

New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose looks to pass the ball as Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson (55) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)MIAMI – The first thing Derrick Rose did in his second stint with the New York Knicks was start handing out assists. Rose made his second Knicks debut Tuesday night in Miami, scoring 14 points in 20 minutes in New York's 98-96 loss to the Heat. Rose won the 2011 NBA MVP award, capping his first season under Thibodeau and a 62-20 season for the Bulls. “I think he’s in great shape.

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)NEW YORK – Derrick Rose is reuniting with Tom Thibodeau after a trade that brings him back to New York. The Knicks agreed to acquire the former NBA MVP from the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, a person with knowledge of the details said. The Knicks will send Dennis Smith Jr. and a second-round pick to the Pistons, the person told The Associated Press. Once it is, it reunites Rose with Thibodeau, his coach in Chicago when the guard became the youngest MVP in NBA history at 22 in 2011. Rose later spent one season in New York, averaging 18 points in 2016-17, before rejoining Thibodeau again in Minnesota.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES – LeBron James scored eight of his 33 points in the second overtime, Anthony Davis added 30 points and the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly avenged a loss in Detroit last month with a 135-129 victory over the undermanned Pistons on Saturday night. The Lakers committed a season-high 23 turnovers, blew a 17-point lead and wasted several chances to win in regulation. “There’s so many learning situations for young players and our guys to play against a great team like the Lakers. Lakers: Vogel got a technical foul in the second quarter for arguing about a blocking call on Marc Gasol.

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – Joel Embiid had 33 points and 14 rebounds, and his two free throws with 7.2 seconds left helped the Philadelphia 76ers seal a 114-110 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Ben Simmons added 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the 76ers, and he made a couple big free throws of his own in the final minute. Detroit trailed 110-108 after Jerami Grant made a 3-pointer with 28.5 seconds left, but Simmons calmly made two free throws to push the lead to four. “Especially late game.”Delon Wright's layup made it 112-110, but Embiid closed the game out with his free throws and finished 12 of 17 from the line. “Just having that confidence to knock those free throws down in a close game is big right now," teammate Tobias Harris said.