Deng aggravated the injury - no one is certain when it actually occurred, and doctors told Deng it may have been there for some time - on Feb. 28 against Houston. He hasn't played since, with Monday's game at Miami the fourth in a row where Deng has remained sidelined.

"If I could take the pain, I'd definitely be out there," Deng said.

He tried to run Monday morning and felt more pain, prompting the decision to shut him down for a bit. He has conferred with doctors in both Chicago and Miami about the issue, and said he felt satisfied that there's now "a consensus" on how to go forward.

Still, it's a blow to the Bulls, who started Monday holding the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race - but had four other teams trailing them by two games or less, so there's little room for error.

"Luol wants to be out there and we want him out there," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "But injuries happen and other guys have to step up and play at a high level right now."

Deng is averaging 14.1 points and 6.0 rebounds this season. He's battled plenty of injuries in the past, including a torn wrist ligament that kept him out of the 2005 playoffs and an Achilles' problem that sidelined him for 16 games last season.

"He's going to have to get off his leg for a while, but it's not a surprise to me or to the staff," Del Negro said. "We knew he was in some pain and our doctors kind of evaluated that. Now it's a matter of, 'Let's see how he feels in a couple weeks,' and we'll go from there."

Deng said he'll be able to try some exercises that are not so weight-bearing, such as running in pools and on specialized treadmills that considerably lessen the pounding on a runner's feet and legs.

If the two-week break doesn't provide any relief, season-ending surgery would be an option for Deng, who signed a six-year extension last summer worth at least $71 million.

"In two weeks, I might feel great," Deng said. "In two weeks, I might not feel so well."