F Cedric Simmons and G Shannon Brown left for D-League assignments with the Iowa Energy on March 15. The Bulls waived F Viktor Khryapa on Feb. 7 after reaching agreement to buy out his contract. Rookie G JamesOn Curry had left thumb surgery in January and is not expected to play again this season.
ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Kirk Hinrich, Shooting guard Larry Hughes, Small forward Luol Deng, Power forward Drew Gooden, Center Joakim Noah. Bench -- Guard Ben Gordon, Guard Chris Duhon, Guard Thabo Sefolosha, Forward Andres Nocioni, Forward Tyrus Thomas, Center Aaron Gray. PLAYER NOTES:
--G Ben Gordon didn't score at all in Friday's loss at Atlanta until the 1:13 mark of the third quarter. He came alive to score 16 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.
--C Aaron Gray did not play in the first half against the Hawks, then scored seven points in 12 minutes after halftime.
--F Luol Deng was pretty much the only Bull who could buy a basket in the first three quarters against Atlanta. Deng knocked down 8-of-12 shots and finished with 19 points.
--G Larry Hughes has hit just three of 17 shots from the field in the past two games.
