Newsmakers

Hired Boston assistant coach Tom Thibodeau accepted a three-year contract to become the Chicago Bulls’ head coach, according to multiple media reports in Chicago. Celtics coach Doc Rivers would not confirm the reports before Boston practiced the day before Game 2 of the series, but both he and his players agreed that Thibodeau would be a good choice. Thibodeau, considered one of the NBA’s top defensive minds, was also a candidate for jobs in New Orleans and New Jersey. He was not made available before the Celtics worked out at the Lakers’ training center.

•The New Orleans Hornets quickly reached an agreement with Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams to be their next head coach after Thibodeau withdrew from consideration earlier in the day, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com. In New Orleans, Williams takes over after a 73-game interim stint by Hornets general manager Jeff Bower, during which New Orleans finished 34-39 after losing star guard Chris Paul to ankle and knee injuries. At 38, Williams supplants Miami’s Erik Spoelstra (39) as the league’s youngest head coach.

Signed The Buffalo Bills have a new linebacker in Reggie Torbor. Torbor, a six-year NFL veteran, agreed to terms with the Bills, preparing to join a team intent on adding players familiar with the 3-4 defense Buffalo is introducing this season. The move comes a little more than a week after Torbor’s contract was terminated by the Miami Dolphins.

Injured Rookie driver Simona de Silvestro burned her right hand in a fiery accident in the IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 78 car looked like a fireball as it slid off the backstretch and came to rest between Turns 3 and 4.

Died Former Cleveland Browns lineman and ex-Virginia athletic director Jim Copeland has died. He was 65. The University of Virginia said he died at his home in Charlottesville on Friday after a long battle with cancer.

•Peruvian mountain rescue police brought the body of acclaimed freeskier Arne Backstrom down off 8,780-foot Pisco mountain, two days after he died in a high-altitude fall. Recovering Backstrom’s body was delayed because rescuers first had to remove a local guide who broke his leg in the operation.