The ups and downs of a disappointing 2009-10 season continue for Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva.

Villanueva came into Sunday night’s game having scored in double figures in four of his last five games, averaging 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in nearly 19 minutes per game.

But Villanueva played just five minutes in Detroit’s 110-103 loss to the Bulls Sunday and didn’t play at all in the second half.

When asked why Villanueva didn’t play in the second half, Pistons coach John Kuester didn’t have much to say.

“Just some of the young guys, give them an opportunity too,” Kuester said.

Villanueva is averaging 12.0 points and 4.8 rebounds this season, both down from last season when he averaged a career-high 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds.

He has battled several injuries this season, including a broken nose, back spasms and plantar fasciitis, but has missed just three games.

“I give Charlie a lot of credit for staying with it, because of all the guys, in terms of injuries, he’s probably missed the fewest games,” Pistons president Joe Dumars told Pistons.com. “A lot of nights, Charlie’s been hurting out there. He’s laboring up and down the court, yet he’s staying out on the floor.

“From that standpoint, just the fact the guy was hurting, that plantar fasciitis, you’ve seen guys shut it down with that. The fact he stayed out there a lot of nights when he probably shouldn’t have been playing, I give him a lot of credit for that.”