Deng scores 13 points in return from injury
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The most encouraging news for the Bulls during Wednesday's overtime loss to New Jersey was a successful comeback by Luol Deng, who hadn't played since Jan. 21 because of left Achilles' tendinitis.
Deng moved well and scored 13 points in just over 19 minutes. Heading into the game, the plan was to use him for no more than 20 minutes.
"I'm happy," he said following the game. "I felt great for the first game back. I remember the last game I played without pain and it felt good."
The Bulls should be able to use Deng in crunch time soon. He went to the bench for good with 2:47 left in the third quarter still 50 seconds short of his 20-minute limit, but didn't try to lobby for last-second action.
"I thought I might go in there the last 19 seconds and hit the game-winner," he joked. "No, after I sat out that long, I didn't think I was going to go back in. It's definitely tough to sit there."
Ben Gordon also returned Wednesday after missing 10 of the previous 12 games with a sprained right wrist. He hit 5 of 15 shots for 14 points and fouled out after playing 32 minutes.
"When I wasn't in the game, when I was just sitting on the side, my wrist kind of gets a little sore and stiff," Gordon said. "I've just got to play through it. I thought I played all right. I just didn't make shots."
Trade deadline nears: League sources suggested that while plenty of trade talk was flying around Wednesday, the Bulls still weren't close to making any deal before today's 2 p.m. trade deadline.
"I'm fairly confident that this will be our team going forward," coach Jim Boylan said before the game.
When it came to the eight-player trade New Jersey made with Dallas on Tuesday, ex-Bull Trenton Hassell was the only new addition to see significant time for the Nets. Hassell played 22 minutes and scored 4 points. DeSagana Diop and Maurice Ager made brief appearances, while guard Devin Harris is expected to miss two more weeks with an ankle injury.
Bulls remember NIU: The Bulls were well-equipped Wednesday to honor Northern Illinois and the victims of last week's tragic shooting. Most of the Bulls wore black NIU T-shirts during early warm-ups, then the entire team switched to gray shirts, which they wore during the national anthem and on the bench during the game.
Equipment manager John Ligmanowski said the Bulls didn't use any special connection to get the shirts. A couple of the team's interns simply drove to DeKalb and cleaned out the XXXL shelf at one of the bookstores.