CLEVELAND -- Luol Deng misses his close friends in Chicago. Inter Milan Jerseys From China . The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Augustin and Mike Dunleavy hit 3-pointers down the stretch to pace the Bulls, who have won three straight, nine of 11 and moved over .500 for the first time since Nov. 22. Chicago reached the seasons mid-point at 21-20, not where many expected the Bulls to be sitting after dealing Deng. The two-time All-Star was a non-factor in his first game against his former team, which traded him for draft picks on Jan. 6. Deng went just 2 of 11 from the field and scored 11 points in 40 minutes. "It was strange," Deng said. "Its the Cavs versus the Bulls and not so much about me. In terms of me, I could have played better." Joakim Noah had 18 rebounds for the Bulls, who appeared to be looking toward the future when they traded Deng, not long after losing superstar Derrick Rose to a season-ending injury. But the Bulls arent fading away as coach Tom Thibodeau has them playing with their usual defensive tenacity. Dengs not around, but the Bulls remain as tough as always. "Its one of the things I respect about our team," Thibodeau said. "They respond to every challenge. They have a lot of heart. Theyre playing together. Each day they have the right approach. If someones out, the next five get in there and get the job done. Were short-handed. We understand how hard we have to play to give ourselves a chance to win." Kyrie Irving scored 26 to lead Cleveland, which has dropped the first two games of a five-game homestand. The Cavs have lost all of their momentum after going 3-2 on the road. "Were not making any excuses here," Irving said. "Weve got to pick it up." Although they were missing two starters in Boozer (calf) and Hinrich (hamstring), the Bulls had more than enough to hold off the Cavaliers. Making just his fourth start, Gibson scored 12 in the third as the Bulls opened a 71-62 lead entering the fourth. Dunleavys 3-pointer extended Chicagos lead to 12 in the opening minute of the final quarter, but the Cavs fought back behind Dion Waiters and pulled to 84-81 on his 3. However, Dunleavy scored again, Noah made a layup and Augustin buried a 3-pointer to give the Bulls a 91-81 lead. The Cavs were still within 93-87 when Dunleavy knocked down another 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to seal Chicagos win. Dunleavy added 22 points for the Bulls, who got just four points from their bench. Waiters had 15 for Cleveland. Deng spent 10 seasons with the Bulls, and the 28-year-old knew it would be challenging to oppose his ex-teammates. "Its definitely going to be weird because its guys Im really close with and it feels like just yesterday I was going to battle with them and now Im going against them," he said at the morning shootaround. Following the game, Deng acknowledged it was difficult to face players he knows so well. "I tried to really play the game within myself," he said. "They played good D. I missed shots. Im not happy with my performance. Thats a good defensive team. Weve just got to keep growing." Before the opening tip, Deng ran over to Chicagos bench and hugged Thibodeau and shook hands with all of the teams assistant coaches. "It says a lot about who he is," Thibodeau said. "That didnt surprise me." Gibson said there were some awkward moments going against Deng. "It felt weird," Gibson said. "There was tension before the game because we werent talking. Its like Tibs said, We love him but were going to go knock him on his butt if he tries to score. After the game, were going to be friends." Outworked by a depleted Chicago team, the Cavs fell behind by 10 early in the second quarter and were down 35-29 when Irving heated up. He made five consecutive 3-pointers in the final 5:45 of the second quarter to give the Cavs a 44-43 lead at halftime. NOTES: Deng spent nearly 20 minutes after the shootaround discussing his days in Chicago, which ended shortly after he rejected a three-year, $30 million contract extension, an offer and pay cut that he and his agents didnt find adequate. Asked if he would consider returning to the Bulls as a free agent this summer, Deng took a swipe at Chicagos front office. "Maybe theyll offer me three years, $30 million," he cracked. "That might be an option to take." ... Noah has recorded at least 10 rebounds in 14 straight games, the longest stretch in franchise history since Dennis Rodman posted 43 straight in 97. Inter Milan Dalbert Jersey . "He started putting me on the ice to strengthen them at the suggestion from a doctor," he said. Weight said it wasnt a pretty sight at the rink in St. Clair Shores, Mich. "I looked like Forrest Gump," he joked. Inter Milan Milan Skriniar Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with cornerback Kelvin Hayden. http://www.cheapintermilanjersey.com/?tag=inter-milan-miranda-jersey . Speaking on Leafs Lunch with Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan on Thursday, Bernier said it was "very hard" at times being entrenched behind Jonathan Quick and is now excited at the prospect of getting an opportunity to compete with Reimer for the top spot with the Leafs.PORTLAND, Ore. -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. The two combined for 42 points in a 104-91 victory over Sacramento on Friday night. While Lillard envisions the partnership with Aldridge rising to the level of say, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, he insists the Blazers are about much more. "We need to be (among the leagues elite), we talk about it," Lillard said. "But weve got a great supporting cast. We dont have to do it all." Lillard finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Aldridge added 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. The Blazers led 54-49 at the half and by as many as 14 points in the third quarter. "Damian and L.A., theyre kind of our go-to guys and they came through tonight," coach Terry Stotts said. DeMarcus Cousins almost singlehandedly carried the Kings with 35 points and nine rebounds. Sacramentos lone win so far this season came in the opener against Denver. Cousins said the loss was about "small things" turning into "big things." "We gotta gang rebound. You just cant depend on the bigs to grab all the rebounds," he said. "A lot of those rebounds go out of our area so weve got to be able to rebound out of our area. Weve got to get some help from the outside because when you dont, they get a lot of second-chance opportunities." Cousins pulled the Kings within 90-84 with a layup in the fourth quarter, but Aldridge countered with a turnaround jumper and six points was the closest Sacramento would get. Aldridge became the first Blazers player to score at least 20 points in each of the teams first five games since Clyde Drexler in 1988. It was the first game of a home-and-away back-to-back between the two teams. The Blazers visit Sacramento on Saturday night. "It will be a different game. Theylll be at home and theyll want to beat us for a little payback," Blazers forward Nic Batum said. Inter Milan Tommaso Berni Jersey. The Blazers went ahead 29-22 in the first quarter. Lillard, last seasons rookie of the year was 3 for 3 from the floor -- all 3-pointers -- for 9 points. Lillard became just the second NBA player to hit three or more 3s in his teams first five games. Former Blazer Damon Stoudamire did it with Toronto in 1996. Mo Williams layup stretched Portlands lead to 37-26. Late in the half, Wesley Matthews hit consecutive 3-pointers to put Portland in front 52-42. Matthews finished with 18 points. Cousins, who had 18 points and six rebounds in the first half, struggled in Sacramentos 105-100 loss at home to the Hawks on Tuesday. Shut down by Atlantas Al Horford, Cousins had 11 points and six rebounds, far off his average of 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds. Cousins layup got the Kings within 54-53 early in the third quarter, but the Blazers took off on a 12-0 run to take a 68-55 lead midway through the period. The Kings struggled defensively against the Blazers, who had six players in double figures and shot nearly 50 per cent from the floor for the game. "Defensively, we collapsed," first-year Kings coach Michael Malone said. NOTES: Former Blazer Chris Dudley and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins were at the game to bring attention Diabetes Health and Wellness Week. ... Portland Timbers players Ryan Johnson and Pa Modou Kah were at the game and got a hearty round of applause when shown on the video scoreboard. The Timbers have advanced to Major League Soccers Western Conference final and play the first of the two-leg series against Real Salt Lake on Sunday. ... Cousins had four steals to up his total on the season to 12. ... Lillard became the first NBA player to have at least 100 points, 25 rebounds, 25 assists and 20 3-pointers in his teams first five games. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '