METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Pelicans have fired coach Monty Williams.
Team president Mickey Loomis made the announcement on Tuesday that the team is moving forward without its coach of the past five years. Loomis says the team made the decision despite widespread sentiment in the organization that Williams is a high-character individual who represented the organization with class and was effective developing young players such as Anthony Davis.
Williams has an overall record of 173-221, with two playoff appearances since landing his first heading coaching job with the Pelicans in 2010.
New Orleans made the playoffs in his first season with guard Chris Paul. Williams then shepherded the franchise through a rebuilding period that included the trade of Paul and a change in ownership.
Cavs-Bulls: Injury updates
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James says he has not yet tested his sprained left ankle as the Cavaliers prepare for Game 5 against Chicago.
James had his ankle wrapped at the team's morning shootaround on Tuesday. He got hurt in the third quarter of Sunday's game when he stepped on one of Derrick Rose's feet on a drive to the basket. James stayed in the game and dropped a buzzer-beating jumper to give Cleveland an 86-84 win.
Cavaliers All-Star guard Kyrie Irving will be limited by a sprained right foot and tendinitis in his left knee. James said Irving is "hampered a lot" but he anticipates "he'll give us what he has."
NBA
Bulls center Pau Gasol is a game-time decision with a strained left hamstring. He sat out Game 4 and coach Tom Thibodeau said the team will wait to see how he feels following warmups before making a decision.
Wizards: Wall improving but uncertain for Game 5
WASHINGTON -- Washington Wizards guard John Wall took the next step in recovery from a fractured left hand and wrist: He dribbled.
The All-Star missed the last three playoff games since suffering five non-displaced fractures in his left wrist and hand in Game 1 against Atlanta on May 3.
Significant swelling and pain prevented Wall from dribbling with his left hand until Tuesday.
"He's moving in the right direction," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "The swelling is down again. Minimal swelling. He wanted to dribble the ball a little bit. Get the feel of it here."
Officially "questionable" on the team's injury report, Wall is scheduled to be examined by team doctors Tuesday or Wednesday.
Tied at 2-2, the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series shifts to Atlanta for Game 5 on Wednesday.
NBA draft to be held in Brooklyn
NEW YORK -- The NBA draft will be held at the Barclays Center, the home of the Brooklyn Nets, on June 25.
The league announced Tuesday that Brooklyn will host the draft for the third consecutive year.
The NBA draft lottery, held on May 19 in New York and broadcast on ESPN, will determine the first 14 picks of the draft.
Minnesota holds the highest chance of obtaining the No. 1 pick, followed by New York and Philadelphia.