By R.L. Bynum
Any Tar Heels fans who remember Carolina’s run to the 2009 national title know that Wayne Ellington seemingly can’t miss when he gets on a run of good shooting games.
He’s enjoying another one of those now for the Detroit Pistons.
Ellington was 4 of 6 from 3-point range and scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half of Detroit’s 114–110 home loss to the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers.
He set a Pistons franchise record with 21 3-pointers in a four-game stretch after tying the team’s record for 3s in a three-game game with 17 in the previous three outings.
How can Ellington keep the streak of deadly shooting going?
“You just keep the same preparation, keep the same work,” said Ellington, who put up a 16.7 game score Saturday. “Nothing different, that’s all. You keep doing the same things, playing the same way. Try to play the right way.”
Ellington is fifth in the league in 3-point shooting percentage at 50%.
Ellington, who has made 25 of 45 3-point attempts (55%) in the last five games, twice had seven 3-pointers for Carolina at the Smith Center in the national title season: Jan. 17 against Miami and Feb. 3 against Maryland. Ellington still holds the UNC record for 3-pointers in a half with seven in the second half of that Miami game. He led the team in 3-pointers his last three seasons with 66, 78 and 85.
Green scored seven points for the victorious Sixers, who have won three consecutive games and lead Milwaukee by two games in the Eastern Conference standings.
There were times when Ellington and Green, starters on that 2009 UNC team, were guarding each other and they will get another chance when their teams play again in Detroit on Monday night. They and Minnesota’s Ed Davis are the only members of that team currently on NBA rosters after the Dallas Mavericks waived Tyler Zeller during the preseason.
Davis collected two points, nine rebounds and three assists in the Timberwolves’ 120–110 home win over New Orleans.
Cameron Johnson scored 19 points in a frustrating 120–112 double-overtime home loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Playing at home in Chicago after a win the previous night in Charlotte, Coby White had 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Bulls’ 101–90 loss to the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Fans in the Carolinas will get changes to check out Cole Anthony on FSS the next two days. Orlando faces the Hornets Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday at 7 p.m.
How Tar Heels did Saturday, what’s ahead
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
No game
Season statistics — 16 games, 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 34.1FG%, 28.3%3P, 88.9FT
Up next — Sunday vs. Charlotte, 6 p.m., FSS; Monday vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m., FSS
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
No game
Season statistics — 16 games, 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 47.8FG%, 39.0%3P, 83.8FT%
Up next — Sunday game at Memphis postponed; Wednesday at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
114–110 win at Detroit — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 5 games, 4.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 47.8 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 1–3 FT
Up next — Monday at Detroit, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics — 15 games, 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 38.5FG%, 34.8%3P, 70.0FT%
Up next — Sunday at Portland, 8 p.m.; Tuesday at Utah, 9 p.m.
Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
120–110 win vs. New Orleans — 19 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, +5, 8.1 game score
Season statistics — 12 games, 2.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 39.3G%, 0–0 3FG, 83.3FT%
Up next — Monday at Golden State, 10 p.m., NBATV; Wednesday at Golden State, 10 p.m., ESPN
Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
114–110 loss vs. Philadelphia — Started; 28 minutes, 17 points, 6–9 FG, 4–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, -14, 16.7 game score
Season statistics — 11 games, 11.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 51.7FG%, 50.0 3P%, 70.0FTG%
Up next — Monday vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.; Wednesday at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
114–110 win at Detroit — Started; 32 minutes, 7 points, 3–8 FG, 1–5 3FG, 0–0 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, +15, 5.5 game score
Season statistics — 17 games, 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 37.7FG%, 36.0%3P 72.7FT%
Up next — Monday at Detroit, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
No game
Season statistics — 5 games, 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 45.5FG%, 21.4%3P, 75.0FT%
Up next — Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers, 4 p.m.; Monday at Portland, 10 p.m.
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
120–112 2 OT loss vs. Denver — Started; 35 minutes, 19 points, 7–16 FG, 3–11 3FG, 2–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +8, 12.1 game score
Season statistics — 15 games, 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.8FG%, 35.3%3P, 82.4FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City, 9 p.m.; Thursday vs. Golden State, 10 p.m.
Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
No game
Season statistics — 4 games, 1.5 points, 1.8 rebound, 0 assists, 2–5 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–2 FT
Up next — Sunday vs. New York, 9 p.m.; Monday vs. Oklahoma City, 10 p.m.
Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics — 6 games, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1 rebound
Up next — Sunday at Portland, 8 p.m.; Tuesday at Utah, 9 p.m.
Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
101–90 loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers — Started; 32 minutes, 14 points, 5–13 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers, -9, 8.2 game score
Season statistics — 16 games, 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 40.2FG%, 35.8%3P, 84.2 FT
Up next — Monday vs. Boston, 9 p.m.; Wednesday at Memphis, 8 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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