A Bulls victory unable to spoil Williams' night
CHAMPAIGN - Deron Williams' homecoming didn't go exactly how he envisioned.
The Illini great returned the Assembly Hall and got clocked in the face, and his Utah Jazz lost to the Bulls.
That didn't bother the 13,609 who came to see him and, really, it didn't seem to bother the Jazz point guard, either.
"I had fun. The crowd was great," Williams said after the Bulls' 108-105 preseason win Friday. "It was fun to be back here in front of the crowd again, the fans, in a game that means a little something. The alumni game was fun; this one was a little bit more."
It was the second time in just over a month Williams returned to a warm reception at his old stomping grounds. He played in the Illinois basketball program's alumni game in early September.
On Friday, he had 14 points - all in the second half - and 9 assists in 25 minutes, just about what he expected to play.
But in a rare NBA preseason game at the Assembly Hall, scheduled mainly because of Williams, it was Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon who made themselves at home.
Paired together for the first time this preseason, Gordon had a game-high 23 points in 29 minutes, while Rose had 14 in 23 minutes.
Rose said Williams is the NBA point guard he looks up to, and he outscored the Jazz star 10-0 in the first half.
"I thought he played well," Williams said of the Bulls rookie. "He came out real aggressive and came out shooting the ball well, which has been a question mark with him. I think once he works on his shot and gets his shot, he's going to be so tough to defend."
Gordon played for the first time after missing the first three games with a jammed toe. He appeared comfortable alongside Rose, came off the bench and made 7 of 14 shots, including 4 of 8 behind the 3-point line.
Williams and Bulls reserve Roger Powell were two-fifths of the starting lineup that carried Illinois to the 2005 national championship game.
Williams, the first Illinois basketball product to win Olympic gold, was hit in the face during a loose-ball scrum and missed much of the second quarter.
Powell also received a loud ovation when he checked into the game late in the third quarter. He scored 4 points as he tries to make the Bulls roster.
If he doesn't, Powell indicated he could return to Italy, where he played last season.
"I try to look and see what I can do to help the team win," Powell said of his current role. "Right now, that's bringing energy at practice and being a good teammate. When I have the opportunity to get in the game, I play hard and try to help the team as much as I can."