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Deng outduels Arenas as Bulls top Wizards

Feb 24, 2007 - 4:57 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Despite another impressive performance from Gilbert Arenas, Luol Deng stole the show.

Deng tied a career high with 32 points and Kirk Hinrich added 20 and 12 assists as the Chicago Bulls survived 36 points by the hot-shooting Arenas en route to their third straight win, a 105-90 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Losers of five of six before the All-Star break, the Bulls now are back on track, following Thursday's 84-78 victory over Cleveland with another stellar display two nights later.

"It was a good game after playing (Thursday)," Chicago coach Scott Skiles said. "Early on, both teams looked like they did not play last night. The key is that we had a low turnover night and a couple of good stretches in the second half."

An All-Star starter and one of the game's most prolific scorers, Arenas showed his skill again on Friday. He shot 11-of-20 from the field, including 2-of-6 from the arc, and scored 12 points in the final period in an attempt to single-handedly bring his squad back.

"Even when he was scoring I think our team defense was good," Deng said. "I think he had tough looks and every time he drove to the basket we had help there. Tonight our main focus was on him and doing a good job really helps our team's confidence."

"Deng just canceled me out," Arenas said. "Ben Gordon could have been an All-Star this year, and when you have guys like them bringing their A game, it's tough to win no matter how many points I get."

Deng had one of his best performances of the season, shooting 13-of-22 from the field on multiple strong drives to the basket and acrobatic layups. Hinrich was 5-of-14 from the floor but made his biggest impact as a playmaker.

"I do (think I'm getting better each game) and I think a lot of it is my confidence," Deng said. "I know I have a lot of things to work on but my confidence is going up as the year goes on."

Leading by four points with 9:03 remaining, the Bulls went on a 9-0 run to make it 90-77 with 6:44 left. The Wizards would not get any closer.

Forward Andres Nocioni said his right foot injury has flared up and he will have to rest it at least three more weeks before returning.

All-Star Caron Butler collected 14 points and seven rebounds for Washington, which shot 42 percent (32-of-76).

"Chicago is a very good team," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "Tonight they played just like a machine. They executed and played disciplined basketball at both ends of the court."