By Dave Ryan
Luol Deng had a season-low six points on Saturday evening as Chicago Bulls went down 122-116 at home against Dallas Mavericks.
Deng hit just two of his eight field goal attempts in 37 minutes against the in-form Mavs, and added three rebounds and two assists.

Bulls, who have been lost four straight since centre Joakim Noah picked up an injury, shot 52 percent, outrebounded the Mavericks 37-33, turned the ball over just eight times themselves, and stayed in the game despite trailing from the end of the first quarter on, but ultimately Dirk Nowitzki’s 13 points in the fourth period helped his team to their 11th straight win.
Chicago host Utah Jazz on Tuesday before travelling to Orlando on Thursday and Miami on Friday. They are now down to eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 31-31 record, half a game clear of Charlotte Bobcats.
There was better news for Ben Gordon and the Detroit Pistons as they split their games over the weekend – going down to a predictable loss at Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday before bouncing back to beat Houston 110-107 on Sunday.
In a game marred by the collapse of Pistons’ guard Rodney Stuckey, Pistons were 70-62 ahead until the dying moments of the third period when LeBron James drained back-to-back treys.
Gordon finished with ten points, two rebounds and as many assists in 24 minutes as Pistons went down to a fifth straight loss to Cleveland.
Two nights later he hit just one of his seven field goal attempts as he finished with six points in the overtime win against Houston.
Those kind of numbers probably explain why the [temporary] loss of Stuckey haven’t led to any more court-time for the British passport holder.
Again he collected two rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes, but picked up four fouls in the process.
That win means Pistons are now 12th in the east with a 22-41 record, and they host Utah Jazz on Wednesday before Washington are the visitors on Friday.
Picture courtesy & copyright of NBAE/Getty Images.