Tar Heels in NBA: Celtics’ Jackson finds 3-point range; Anthony hits 14, goes viral with flop; Little scores 11

By R.L. Bynum

Justin Jackson finally made his season debut for the Boston Celtics on Monday night and showed that he’s still got the same sweet shooting stroke.

Jackson scored six points in five minutes, making both 3-point attempts, as the Celtics fell to 3–1 with a 120–102 road loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Coby White dished out four assists in nine scoreless minutes for the Bulls (2–2), while Tony Bradley played two scoreless minutes. Both missed a 3-point attempt for their only shot.


In Portland’s 135–110 home romp over Denver, Nassir Little had 11 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds and an 8.8 game score in 18 minutes.

The 4–0 Blazers are one of two remaining unbeaten NBA teams, along with the 2–0 Milwaukee Bucks.


Cole Anthony has enjoyed some of his best NBA games against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, but he couldn’t find his shooting touch in Orlando’s 115–102 loss Monday as the Magic fell to 0–4.

Anthony contributed 14 points, four rebounds and four assists but was only 6 of 18 from the floor and missed all five 3-point attempts.

Anthony also went viral with a flop after Julius Randle inadvertently hit him in the face.


Day’Ron Sharpe collected five points, three rebounds and an assist in 15 minutes of Brooklyn’s 134–124 loss at Memphis to drop the Nets to 1–2.


Walker Kessler missed his only shot and was scoreless for the first time in his four-game NBA career in eight minutes of Utah’s 114–108 loss at Houston. He blocked one shot to give him seven on the season.

It was the first loss of the season for the 3–1 Jazz.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard

Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

115–102 Monday loss at New York — Started at shooting guard; 29 minutes, 14 points, 6–18 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, -7, 7.0 game score
Season statistics — 3 games, 17.7 points, 46.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 63.6 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 1.0 steal
Next games — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cleveland; 7 p.m. Friday vs. Charlotte, Bally Sports Southeast
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward

Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

Off Monday
Season statistics — 3 games, 7.0 points, 36.8 FG%, 0 of 5 3FG, 53.8 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Next games 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Memphis; 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Miami
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center

Age 24 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)

120–102 Monday win vs. Boston — 2 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, +1
Season statistics — 2 games, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1.5 rebounds
Next games 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Indiana; 8:30 Friday at San Antonio
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward

Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

Off Monday
Season statistics 2 games, 9.0 points, 54.5 FG%, 55.6 3P%, 1 of 1 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Next games 7:30 Tuesday at New Orleans, TNT; 7:30 Thursday at Brooklyn, NBATV
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Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward

Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)

120–102 Monday loss at Chicago (season debut) — 5 minutes, 6 points, 2–3 FG, 2–2 3FG, +3
Next games — 7:30 Friday vs. Cleveland; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Washington
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns power forward

Age 26 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

Off Monday
Season statistics 3 games, 10.3 points, 42.9 FG%, 43.8 3P%, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assist
Next games 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Golden State, TNT; 10 p.m. Friday vs. New Orleans, ESPN
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Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center

Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

114–108 Monday loss at Houston — 8 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, plus/minus of 0, -2.3 game score
Season statistics 4 games, 6.3 points, 66.7 FG, 45.5 FT, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.8 blocks
Next games 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Houston; 9 p.m. Friday at Denver
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers small forward

Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

135–110 Monday win vs. Denver — 18 minutes, 11 points, 4–6 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1–3 FG, 4 rebounds, +7, 8.8 game score
Season statistics 4 games, 6.8 points, 57.9 FG%, 44.4 3P%, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Next games 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Miami; 10 p.m. Friday vs. Houston
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard

Age 26 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)

Off Monday
Season statistics (1 game) — 7 minutes, 2 points, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, +8, 3.3 game score
Next games 7:30 Tuesday at New Orleans, TNT; 7:30 Thursday at Brooklyn, NBATV
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center

Age 20 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

134–124 Monday loss at Memphis — 15 minutes, 5 points, 2–2 FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, -8, 8.8 game score
Season statistics 4 games, 6.8 points, 57.9 FG%, 44,4 3P%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 block, 0.5 of an assist
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at Milwaukee, ESPN; 7:30 Thursday vs. Dallas, NBATV
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard

Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

120–102 Monday win vs. Boston — 9 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4 assists, 1 foul, +4, 1.7 game score
Season statistics 4 games, 6.3 points, 34.6 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 1.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Next games 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Indiana; 8:30 Friday at San Antonio
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Out while recovering from surgery
Memphis forward Danny Green will miss most of the season after surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered in May.
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Get an explanation of the game score metric here.

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