Notes, Quotes
• The Bulls breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday when an MRI exam showed no stress fracture in forward Luol Deng’s right tibia. Deng sat out the second half of Saturday’s win over Houston and an X-ray revealed a possible stress fracture, but that possibility was eliminated a day later. “It was really good news,” Deng said. “I think right now I’m going to have some pain, but I don’t think I can make it worse. On certain plays, I’m not jumping as well as I want to. It’s almost like a shin splint. It feels that way.” Deng decided during warm-ups that the leg didn’t feel well enough to play against Charlotte on Tuesday.
• G-F John Salmons got off to a good start with the Bulls. In his first five games since being traded from Sacramento, he has averaged 15.0 points. That’s less than the 18 per game he scored for the Kings, but Salmons has done it efficiently. He is playing six fewer minutes per game, while shooting an impressive .533 from the field. He’s knocked down 7-of-15 shots from three-point range since joining the Bulls but refused to complain about his role coming off the bench. “I think starters want to start,” he said. “But I’m just trying to help the team win. I’m not trying to cause no beef or anything like that about coming off the bench. If I come off the bench, I come off the bench. I have no power over it.”