Mike Dunleavy laughs off trash talk

— -- PHOENIX -- A night after being called a "clown" by Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins, Chicago Bulls guard Mike Dunleavy chuckled when he found out what the emotional center said about him after Monday night's game.

"He called me a clown?" Dunleavy said after Tuesday night's win over the Phoenix Suns. "I mean, I'd like to respond but clowns can't talk. So (I can) mime or (give him) some animal balloons or something. Oh man.

"That's the epitome of the pot calling the kettle black," Dunleavy added. "But honestly I've never been called that before. I guess there's a first time for everything. I don't have much to say about him or that."

Dunleavy and Cousins got tangled up during Monday night's game -- a fact that obviously agitated Cousins.

"He's a clown," Cousins told reporters. "And he's scared. "I wouldn't even waste my time on him if I ever saw him outside of the gym. He's a clown."

This isn't the first time the two have exchanged words. The bad blood between them dates to Dunleavy's days with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I think his reputation speaks for itself," Dunleavy said. "He's got a short fuse and is easily irritated so you can't really breathe on the guy without him flipping out. That kind of stuff happens, he's susceptible to that and probably will be for the rest of his career."

The veteran guard doesn't sound concerned about any future run-ins with Cousins, though the Bulls play the Kings again on March 15 at the United Center.

"I haven't had any issues with anyone in this league," Dunleavy said. "So I'm just going to leave it at that. There's not much more for me to say."

Like Dunleavy, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau brushed off Cousins' comments.

"I don't pay any attention to that stuff," Thibodeau said before the game. "All right, we played poorly last night, get ready for Phoenix. That's all I'm thinking about. I could care less what DeMarcus Cousins says."