CHICAGO (AP) -Bulls forward Luol Deng is expected to miss one to three weeks because of his recurring left Achilles’ tendinitis, and leading scorer Ben Gordon sat out Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained right wrist.
Gordon, averaging 19.6 points, hurt himself Monday during a 104-90 loss at Memphis.
“X-rays were taken (on Gordon), and from what I understand, they were negative,” interim coach Jim Boylan said. “It’s just can he get it loose enough so he can play.”
Gordon, who arrived at the arena late on a snowy evening, apparently was unable to do so.
Deng’s condition has been bothering him for about a month, and he does not want to rush back.
“We’re going to try to be smart about it,” he said. “I don’t want to come back and have to sit down again. Even if I feel good after one week, I’m really going to try to test it and see how good it feels before I start going again.”
Deng, second on the team at 17.9 points per game, missed three games before returning Jan. 13 at Atlanta. The problem flared up again during the fourth quarter against Golden State on Friday, and he sat out the following night against Detroit. Deng played 26 minutes at Memphis but sat out the fourth quarter because of the pain and the lopsided score.
It’s been a difficult season for Deng.
Although his statistics are similar to last year’s, he has not approached the All-Star level many predicted for him. He turned down a contract extension before the season and missed three games with a bad back in November after playing in all 82 a year ago.
“It’s just something I have to deal with,” Deng said. “As a player, you’re always trying to get better. We still have a long season ahead of us, and this is not a season-ending injury.”
The Bulls were also without guard Chris Duhon, who is out indefinitely with a sprained left knee.
The Pacers were without injured forwards Troy Murphy and Jermaine O’Neal.
Coach Jim O’Brien said Murphy “limped through” Wednesday’s shootaround after leaving Monday’s game at Philadelphia with a sore left knee. O’Neal missed his third game with a bruised left knee that is expected to keep him out at least two weeks.
Guard Travis Diener (sprained right foot) was active, as was center David Harrison after serving a five-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program.
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