Luol Deng scored 40 points for the first time in his NBA career while Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah each had double-doubles as the Chicago Bulls whipped the Portland Trail Blazers 110-98 on Monday night.
With former USA Dream Team forward and Bulls great Scottie Pippen sitting courtside, Chicago won for the second time on the young season while the Blazers suffered their first defeat in four games.
“We moved it and shot it well,” Deng said.
“You’re going to get shots in different places, so you’ve got to be ready.”
Noah had 10 points and 10 rebounds while Rose finished with 16 points and 13 assists.
Great Britain’s Deng, France’s Joakim Noah and Team USA’s Rose will be hoping to represent their countries at the London 2012 Olympics.
Another crossing his fingers that he’ll play at those Summer Games is Turkey center Omer Asik.
The NBA rookie played 26 minutes and had seven rebounds and three blocks to go with his six points.
Brazil’s Tiago Splitter made his NBA debut with San Antonio.
The former Caja Laboral big man came off the bench and played 10 minutes in the Spurs’ 97-88 triumph at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Splitter, who missed the pre-season with a foot injury, had two points, two boards and a steal.
France’s Tony Parker had 19 points, nine assists and three steals for San Antonio while Team USA’s Eric Gordon poured in 23 points, handed out 11 assists and came up with two steals in defeat.
Tyreke Evans led Sacramento with 23 points, five assists, seven boards and two steals in the Kings’ 111-108 victory over Toronto.
Sacramento are off to a fast 3-1 start while the Raptors, who got 28 points from Italy’s Andrea Bargnani, fell to 1-2.
