Gray surprises, Deng performs in Bulls' win

Following Thursday's practice, Bulls coach Scott Skiles scoffed at the idea of rookie center Aaron Gray earning meaningful minutes this season.

A day later during a 100-92 preseason victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the United Center, all Gray did was pile up 14 points and 10 rebounds during his 21 minutes on the court.

Did those numbers create any change in perception about the second-round pick from Pittsburgh?

"I think you're pretty much a fool if you think after a couple exhibition games and a week of training camp, you marry yourself to a rookie," Skiles replied. "I think that's been a formula for disaster in our league for a long time. We'll just keep working with him and see what he does. Tonight he certainly didn't do anything to hurt himself."

In the Bulls' locker room, Gray acted as though he'd just lost the game for his team.

"Maybe my stats are OK, but I'm making so many mistakes out there," he said. "I have a lot to learn yet. Especially defensively, my rotations are so slow. I'm not seeing everything as clear as I should. It's going to take some repetition. With hard work, I think I'll be all right."

The best news for the Bulls on this night was a strong performance by Luol Deng. He played like a polished all-star forward, hitting 6 of 7 shots for 18 points in just 21 minutes. Deng scored in the post a few times and was automatic with his midrange jumper. Skiles doesn't think this performance is an illusion.

"He's been really good at the Berto," Skiles said. "He's been really good in both games. He really has become an efficient player. I'd be surprised if he didn't take that right into the regular season."

Thanks to the absence of Ben Gordon and Thabo Sefolosha, Deng even got a chance to play shooting guard for extended stretches, which Skiles promised to try this season.

Second-year forward Tyrus Thomas also played well. He drew some fouls early, then finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. Rookie Joakim Noah came on late to produce 11 points and 7 boards.

The bad news was a bland performance by Andres Nocioni, who had 5 fouls and no points before knocking down a pair of jumpers and tossing an alley-oop to Noah in the fourth quarter.

After predicting Thursday he would play, Gordon decided to sit out his second game after feeling some pain in a sprained left ankle. Veteran forward Joe Smith (swollen right knee) also stayed on the sideline, joining Sefolosha (right hamstring strain) and Adrian Griffin (sore back) among the injured.

Brown still not around: Dallas coach Avery Johnson suggested the Mavs have given up on the idea of signing ex-Bulls forward P.J. Brown, who has yet to announce whether or not he'll play this season. "As far as we know, he's retired," Johnson said. "We haven't heard anything. We like our team right now."

Roster is stagnant: Because of the injury situation, coach Scott Skiles suggested the Bulls will be in no hurry to make any more cuts. Shooting guard Thomas Gardner, point guard Andre Barrett and power forward Jared Homan are still vying for the 15th roster spot, which will most likely remain vacant.