Deng: ‘It’s good to have Derrick back’
(Luol) Deng was practically exasperated by the waves of media at his locker asking (Derrick) Rose questions, before figuring out that Rose had left. On the court, however, Deng was happy to see his All-Star teammate return. Who wouldn’t be? Well, maybe (John) Lucas III, who only managed eight shots in 14 minutes.
“It’s good to have Derrick back,” Deng said. “Hopefully after the break, Rip (Hamilton) will be back. We’ve got one more game, Milwaukee (on Wednesday), and from there on, everyone will be back.”
Deng, one of the league leaders in minutes per game, played 44 minutes, but only hit 4 of 15 shots, scoring 10 points to go with nine rebounds and four assists.
Deng had two great games without Rose, putting up consecutive points-assists double-doubles, but he was glad to see him back. It was the first time the pair had played 30-plus minutes in the same game since Feb. 4. Rose left the next game early with back spasms and then played 22 minutes against New Orleans before missing five straight. But while it felt like Rose had been out longer, does anyone remember seeing Hamilton play? (His last game was the loss to Miami on Jan. 29.)
