One day after participating in the Bulls' 2 1/2 -hour practice, Luol Deng sat out Monday with a sore back that, for the first time, he acknowledged could be a season-long issue.
Deng said he planned to play Tuesday night against the Lakers and continues to undergo daily treatment and rehabilitation. He was injured Nov. 15 in Phoenix and missed three games on the West Coast trip, including the first Lakers game.
"We just had a rough practice [Sunday], and I'm a little sore," Deng said. "Some days it feels better than others. It's definitely not as bad as it was. The last game (Friday against the Knicks) is the best it's felt. It's just one of those things I'll probably have to be dealing with all season."
Deng, 22, hasn't let the soreness affect his performance of late. He's averaging 21 points in his last six games.