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Deng expects to miss at least a week or two

MIAMI - The Bulls will be without three potential starters for the next few games. Luol Deng joined the injured list when he sprained his left ankle midway through the third quarter of Friday's loss to Miami.

He joins Drew Gooden (sprained right ankle), who will probably be out another week, and Kirk Hinrich (thumb surgery), sidelined until mid-February.

"From the looks of it, it's going to be more than a week," Deng said after the game. "It could be two weeks, maybe more. It's just my ankle is really swollen."

Deng said an X-ray showed no major damage, and he expects to get an MRI exam soon. He left the arena on crutches. Both Deng and Tyrus Thomas jumped to contest a shot by Miami center Joel Anthony. Just before hitting the ground, Deng's left leg got tangled up with Anthony, causing the ankle to twist. The fifth-year forward had 8 points and 9 rebounds before leaving at the 7:52 mark of the third quarter.

"We were a deep team, but we have a lot of guys that aren't helping us right now because of injuries," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We have to find a way."

B-Easy loves Bulls: During the predraft process last June, Miami's Michael Beasley developed some strong feelings for the Bulls, who eventually opted for Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick.

"I loved the Bulls organization," Beasley said before Friday's game. "What they stand for, what they believe in - winning, working hard. But I'm a Heat. I love the Heat better."

Beasley was asked if on draft day he thought there was still a chance the Bulls would call his name.

"I wanted to believe, but the odds were against it with (Rose) being so good and so athletic and being from the city," he said. "My back was against the wall.

"It got to a point where I was just happy to get drafted. There was so much talk about Beasley falling to No. 6, dropping. I was just ready to get it all over with. It was nerve-racking."

Beasley played well off the bench Friday, collecting 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in 24 minutes.

Nocioni healthy enough: Before the game, coach Vinny Del Negro said the decision to remove Andres Nocioni from the starting lineup in favor of Tyrus Thomas was because of matchups, not the injury Nocioni suffered in Thursday's practice.

Nocioni was hit on the top of the head by an Aaron Gray elbow and felt some numbness in his arms. Nocioni had an MRI exam in Miami on Friday morning, which he said showed nothing unusual.

Nocioni wasn't as good as he has been in recent games but contributed 10 points and 5 fouls. After colliding with Udonis Haslem and getting called for a charge, Nocioni did grab at his neck and right arm but stayed in the game.

Bull horns: Vinny Del Negro collected the first technical foul of his coaching career in the second quarter while arguing a charging foul on Derrick Rose that officials changed to a block on Udonis Haslem a few seconds later. Dwyane Wade missed the technical free throw. ... Rose moved from ninth to seventh among Eastern Conference guards in the most recent all-star voting returns. Washington's Gilbert Arenas, who hasn't played at all this season, is sixth. Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson are well in front for the starting spots.

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