Season over for Deng?

When Bulls forward Luol Deng didn't start the third quarter on Saturday, the team called the problem a tibia bone contusion.

Following the game, a more serious possibility was raised. X-rays showed that Deng might have a stress fracture in his lower leg and could be lost for the season. He'll have an MRI exam Monday to further assess the damage.

"It's been bothering me maybe three or four weeks," Deng said. "I thought it was just a sprain. I had a play in the first half where I jumped up and I felt it. I'm not in pain. When I'm walking, when I get on my toes or I'm jumping, I feel it in there a little bit. But I thought it was just a bruise, but it stayed there."

An MRI exam revealed Luol Deng does not have a stress fracture of his right tibia, which would have sidelined the fifth-year forward for the Bulls' final 22 games and—gulp—possibly beyond.