Tar Heels in NBA: Mavs win without two stars, thanks to Bullock’s 20 points, 6 3-pointers, first career double-double week after missing game

By R.L. Bynum

Without Kyrie Irving and Luca Dončić, the Dallas Mavericks needed some big performances to win at San Antonio, and Reggie Bullock came through with his best game of the season.

Bullock, a 10-year veteran who turned 32 Thursday, produced his first career double-double with 20 points, six 3-pointers and a career-high 13 rebounds (all defensive) in 46 minutes as the Mavericks pulled out a 136–128 overtime victory Wednesday over the host Spurs.

Bullock’s big game came a week after missing a game because of a right quad contusion. He had combined for 12 points and 2 of 10 from 3-point range in his previous three games.

In overtime, Bullock’s corner 3-pointer gave Dallas a five-point lead with 2:52 left in overtime, and his 3 with 1:12 remaining pushed the Mavericks’ lead to 11.

Bullock made 6 of 10 3-point attempts, his 10th career game shooting at least 60% from 3-point range, to earn a season-high 21.6 game score. It was Bullock’s best game score since Dec. 19, 2018, when he put up a 25.3 for Detroit and a career-high 33 points with seven 3-pointers at Minnesota.

He also had a career-high in the floor impact counter (FIC) metric of 24.25. His best previous rebounding total was nine against Atlanta on Feb. 6, 2022. He was +11 for the game, the 10th-best plus/minus of his career.

Although it was Bullock’s first NBA double-double, he had six at Carolina, including 22 points and a career-high 13 rebounds on Feb. 23, 2013, in a 76–65 home win over N.C. State. He also had 13 rebounds in an 18-point game on Dec. 19, 2012, in an 85–67 loss at Texas.

Irving missed the game with right foot soreness, and Dončić was out with a left thigh strain, but Bullock was part of the first game in Mavericks history with five players scoring at least 20 points. It was the fourth time that’s happened in the NBA since 2004.

Theo Pinson didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the second time in three games.


Harrison Barnes and the Sacramento Kings keep rolling along.

Barnes scored 17 points Wednesday as the Kings won 117–114 at Chicago on a De’Aaron Fox 3-pointer with 0.7 of a second left. Sacramento improved to 41–27 and edged closer to its first winning record and playoff berth since 2005–06.

Coby White collected 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and a 12.6 game score for Chicago.


In Cleveland’s 118–109 home loss to Philadelphia, the Cavaliers’ Danny Green didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the fifth time in six games.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 49 games, 12.3 points, 44.2 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 87.9 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Next games — 10 p.m. Thursday at Phoenix, NBATV; 3 p.m. Saturday at Los Angeles Clippers


Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

117–114 Wednesday win at Chicago Started; 35 minutes, 17 points, 3–10 FG, 2–6 3FG, 9–10 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, +13, 10.8 game score
Season statistics — 68 games, 15.1 points, 47.3 FG%, 36.8 3FG%, 84.7 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games 7:30 Thursday at Brooklyn; 8 p.m. Saturday at Washington


Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

137–128 Wednesday OT win at San Antonio Started; 46 minutes, 20 points (second-highest this season), 6–11 FG, 6–10 3FG, 13 rebounds (career-high), 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +11,-4, 21.6 game score (season-high)
Season statistics 67 games, 7.2 points, 40.4 FG%, 38.0 3P%, 70.3 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Next games 10:30 Friday at Los Angles Lakers, NBATV; 8 p.m. Monday at Memphis, NBATV


Danny Green, Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Age 35 | 6–6, 205 | 13th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)

118–109 Wednesday loss vs. Philadelphia Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics 8 games, 84 minutes, 25 points, 8–21 FG, 8–17 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Next games 7:30 Friday vs. Washington; 7:30 Tuesday at Brooklyn, NBATV


Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 30 games, 15.3 points, 45.9 FG%, 40.2 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games 7:30 Thursday vs. Sacramento; 3:30 Sunday vs. Denver


Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Off Wednesday
Season statistics 65 games, 8.6 points, 72.1 FG%, 54.2 FT%, 1–2 3FG, 8.6 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.3 blocks
Next games 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Boston; 9 p.m. Monday vs. Sacramento


Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)


Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 48 games, 6.2 points, 45.9 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 67.6 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games 10 p.m. Friday vs. Boston; 9 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Clippers


Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)


137–128 OT Wednesday win at San Antonio Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 36 games, 1.8 points, 32.8 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 81.8 FT, 1.1 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Next games 10:30 Friday at Los Angles Lakers, NBATV; 8 p.m. Monday at Memphis, NBATV


Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Off Wednesday
Season NBA statistics — 36 games, 4.1 points, 51.6 FG%, 5–9 3FG, 60.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.6 of a block
Season G League statistics 14 games, 16.3 points, 64.4 2PFG%, 21.1 3FG%, 57.1 FT%, 12.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, 12 double-doubles
Next games 7:30 Thursday vs. Sacramento; 3:30 Sunday vs. Denver


Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

117–114 Wednesday loss vs. Sacramento 28 minutes, 12 points, 4–7 FG, 4–6 3FG, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, +5, 12.6 game score
Season statistics 60 games, 8.7 points, 41.7 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Next games 8 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota; 8 p.m. Saturday vs Miami


Bradley free agent

On Feb. 21, Chicago waived Tony Bradley. His season statistics: 12 games, 33 minutes, 19 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 4–4 FT, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block


In the G League

Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)

Off Wednesday
Season statistics 37 games, 13.6 points, 62.3 2P FGP%, 0–20 3P, 59.5 FT%, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 of a block, 24 double-doubles
Next games 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Fort Wayne; 3 p.m. Saturday at Motor City


Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220 | Sixth pro season | UNC 2014–27 (3 seasons)

Off Wednesday
Season G League statistics — 9 games, 18.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 36.3 3FG%, 66.7 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.01 steal
Season NBA statistics (with Boston) — 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Next games 11 a.m. Thursday at Delaware; 7 p.m. Friday at Capital City


Get an explanation of the game score metric here. Michael Jordan produced the all-time-high game score of 64.6 on March 28, 1990, in the Chicago Bulls’ 117–113 overtime win at Cleveland. Jordan had 69 points on 23 of 37 shooting (2 of 6 from 3-point range), made 21 of 23 free-throw attempts and collected 18 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block.

Photos via @dallasmavs

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