Chicago Bulls say Sudanese British NBA star Deng is fine easing fears after bruised shin

CHICAGO - Sudan-born British forward Luol Deng has only a bruised right shin and not a stress fracture as first feared, the Chicago Bulls announced on Monday.

Deng, averaging 14.1 points and 6.0 rebounds over 49 games for the National Basketball Association club, underwent an MRI exam on Sunday and is listed as day-to-day by the Bulls, who had feared a season-ending injury.

Deng, who ranks fourth among the Bulls' point producers, suffered the injury against Houston on Saturday.

The seventh overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, Deng signed a six-year deal with the Bulls worth 71 million dollars last July.

The Bulls, 27-33 and one game behind Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, received more good news when an MRI showed only a strained left quad for forward Tim Thomas, obtained last week from New York.

(AFP)