By R.L. Bynum
Coby White had it all going for him on his 22nd birthday Wednesday night.
White scored a season-high 31 points with five rebounds, six assists and a steal as the Chicago Bulls earned a 125–118 home win over the Sacramento Kings for their fifth consecutive victory.
Chicago (38–21) took over the Eastern Conference lead by a half-game over the Miami Heat.
White, starting for the third consecutive game, tied his season-high with six 3-pointers, which he also had Friday against Minnesota and on Dec. 31 at Indiana. He passed Luol Deng for 10th on the Bulls’ all-time 3-pointers list with 389. He is 21 of 33 from 3-point range (63.6%) in the last four games.
It was White’s best scoring game since collecting 31 at Miami on April 24 and the fifth career game of at least 30 points.
White’s 27.0 game score was the second-best of his career, topped only by the 31.3 in a 36-point game Jan. 6, 2021, also against the Kings.
Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points on 16 of 27 shooting to become the first player in NBA history to score at least 35 points and shoot at least 50% in seven consecutive games. That broke Wilt Chamberlain’s streak of six. It was DeRozan’s eighth consecutive game of at least 30 points, matching Michael Jordan’s record in January 1996.
Harrison Barnes scored 16 points and two 3-pointers and pulled down four rebounds for the Kings.
Tony Bradley was scoreless with four rebounds in eight minutes for Chicago.
Cole Anthony went into what will be a busy All-Star break for him with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists in Orlando’s 130–109 home loss to Atlanta.
It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Magic, who enter the break with the league’s worst record at 13–47.
Anthony was listed as questionable entering the game with a right ankle sprain but played 24 minutes. He will play for James Worthy’s team in the Young Stars game at 7 p.m. Friday (TNT), then compete in the Dunk Contest on Saturday night (TNT).
His 17.1 game score was his 15th of at least 17 this season after putting up two such games during his rookie season.
Cameron Johnson scored 14 points and three 3-pointers, with five rebounds and four assists, as host Phoenix beat Houston 124–121 for the Suns’ seventh consecutive victory.
It was the 25th time in 54 games with at least three 3-pointers for Johnson. He passed the 500 career defensive rebounds plateau with five to give him 501.
Phoenix (48–10) leads Golden State by 6.5 games for the league’s best record.
Wayne Ellington missed all three shots, all 3-point attempts, and was scoreless with two rebounds, a steal and a block in four minutes of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 106–101 home win over Utah. It was only the second time in the last eight games he’s played but the second time in the last three games.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
130–109 loss vs. Atlanta — Started; 24 minutes, 23 points, 9–16 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3–3 FT, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, -20, 17.1 game score
Season statistics — 46 games, 17.7 points, 39.8 FG%, 33.7 3FG%, 85.5 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday Rising Stars game, TNT; Dunk Contest, the third of the events that start at 8 p.m. Saturday, TNT; 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 vs. Houston
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
125–118 loss at Chicago — Started, 34 minutes, 17 points, 4–7 FG, 2–3 3FG, 7–8 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -9, 13.8 game score
Season statistics — 55 games, 17.0 points, 46.6 FG%, 40.9 3FG%, 82.8 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, vs. Denver; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 vs. Memphis
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
125–118 win vs. Sacramento — 8 minutes, 0 points, 4 rebounds, +2, 2.0 game score
Season statistics — 45 games, 3.1 points, 57.9 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, vs. Atlanta; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, vs. Memphis
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 49 games, 8.2 points, 41.5 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday at New Orleans; 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Utah
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 19 games, 1.1 points, 64.3 FG%, 37.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at Detroit; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, vs. Washington
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
106–101 win vs. Utah — 4 minutes, 0 points, 0–3 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, -2, -0.2 game score
Season statistics — 35 games, 6.1 points, 39.2 FG%, 38.5 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, vs. Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN; 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, vs. New Orleans, ESPN
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 39 games, 6.5 points, 40.1 FG%, 38.2 3FG%, 12–14 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 8:30 Thursday at Milwaukee, TNT; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Minnesota
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
124–121 win vs. Houston — 31 minutes, 14 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, +16, 12.8 game score
Season statistics — 54 games, 11.8 points, 46.0 FG%, 42.9 3FG%, 85.5 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 at Oklahoma City; 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 25, vs. New Orleans
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder
Season statistics — 42 games, 9.8 points, 46.0 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Off Wednesday
NBA season statistics — 16 games, 1.8 points, 28.1 FG%, 24.0 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1.2 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
G League season statistics — 14 games, 15.7 points, 40.4 FG%, 38.6 3FG%, 84.8 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday at New Orleans; 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at Utah
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
111–106 win at New York — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 29 games, 6.3 points, 57.1 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 56.8% FT, 5.2 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Season G League statistics — 4 games, 18.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 33.33P%, 85.7 FT%, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 2.6 blocks
Up next — 7:30 Thursday vs. Washington; 7:30 Thursday, Feb. 24, vs. Boston, TNT
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
125–118 win vs. Sacramento — 40 minutes, 31 points, 11–19 FG, 6–11 3FG, 3–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +6, 27.0 game score
Season statistics — 39 games, 14.0 points, 45.3 FG%, 40.1 3P%, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, vs. Atlanta; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, vs. Memphis
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In the G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
Off Wednesday
NBA season statistics — 7 games, 2.1 points, 33.3% FG, 33.3% 3FG, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
G League season statistics— 19 games, 23.4 points, 43.2% FG, 40.6% 3FG, 85.2 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Thursday at Santa Cruz Warriors; 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets affiliate)
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Photo via @chicagobulls
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