Luol Deng injury: Bulls star hurts ankle in loss to Rockets

Chicago Bulls small forward Luol Deng sprained his ankle in the team's 120-97 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas night, adding insult to what was an embarrassing and dispiriting performance on national television. Deng's status for Wednesday night's game against the Indiana Pacers is still uncertain.

Deng suffered the injury in the first quarter but played through it, totaling 36 minutes played. But he was seen after the game limping gingerly around the United Center, and he told reporters that he would "see how it feels" prior to the game with the Pacers. Deng did not play noticeably poorly, scoring 14 points on 5-14 shooting while picking up five rebounds and two assists.

Deng, of course, has long battled injuries as a member of the Bulls. His decision to forego surgery on a torn ligament in his wrist was a controversial one and he still wears a bandage on his left hand. But he's managed to appear in all 27 of Chicago's games this season while averaging the highest minutes per game totals of his entire career. On the season, he's averaging 17.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.