Tar Heels in NBA: Bradley leads Sixers win over Bulls despite 25 from White; Barnes hits 20

By R.L. Bynum

For possibly the first time this season, three Tar Heels started in the same NBA game. Two had impressive nights.

Tony Bradley, making his second start of the season, collected a season-high 14 points, five rebounds and three blocks filling in for Joel Embiid to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 127–105 road victory over the Chicago Bulls despite 25 points from Coby White.

Danny Green added nine points on three 3-pointers, six rebounds, four assists and one block for the Sixers. His 9.2 game score was the best for him in the last five games.

But the story of the game was Bradley, who made all seven of his shots as the 76ers won despite Embiid and Ben Simmons being sidelined because of contact tracing. It was Bradley’s fourth career game with three blocks. His 15.9 game score was a season-high and his best since putting up a 19.3 on Aug. 7 for Utah against Sacramento.

“It felt good,” said Bradley, who blocked a shot from a driving White in the third quarter. “I wasn’t planning on doing that, I guess. I just wanted from the jump to bring energy and effort. So it felt good, I don’t know what else to say.”

He played 22 minutes and has scored in double digits in all three games this season when he played at least 20.

“I love the support, especially with Tony,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “Tony has lost a good 25 pounds since the season has started. He works every single day on his body and on his skill. Just because he doesn’t play doesn’t mean the other guys don’t notice what he’s doing. I thought the entire bench — everyone — was so happy for him as he was playing.”

White’s 25 points tied for the third-best scoring output this season.


Harrison Barnes picked up right where he left off before the All-Star break and helped the Sacramento Kings get an easy 125–105 home victory over the Houston Rockets. Barnes collected 20 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season for his seventh consecutive game with at least 17 points.


Orlando’s Cole Anthony and Phoenix’s Cameron Johnson both sat out their games.

Anthony has missed 12 consecutive games while recovering from a right rib non-displaced fracture. Orlando coach Steve Clifford said earlier this week that Anthony isn’t close to returning.

Johnson missed his second consecutive game because of health and safety protocols.


Nassir Little had seven points and four rebounds in 21 minutes of Portland’s 127–121 home loss to Phoenix.


In New York’s 134–101 loss at Milwaukee, Reggie Bullock had eight points and Theo Pinson was scoreless in two minutes.


Wayne Ellington went 2 of 7 from the floor and scored five points in Detroit’s 105–102 road loss to Charlotte.


Minnesota’s Ed Davis and Oklahoma City’s Justin Jackson didn’t play in their teams’ respective victories.


How Tar Heels did Thursday, what’s next

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
111–103 loss at Miami —
Missed 12th consecutive game with a right rib non-displaced fracture
Season statistics
— 25 games, 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 37.4FG%, 32.4%3P, 83.6FT
Up next — Friday at San Antonio, 9 p.m.; Sunday vs. Miami, 7 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
125–105 win vs. Houston —
Started; 31 minutes, 20 points, 8–15 FG, 0–3 3FG, 4–6 FT, 11 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +27, 14.4 game score
Season statistics
— 34 games, 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.4FG%, 38.4%3P, 82.0FT%
Up next — Saturday at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.; Monday at Charlotte, 7 p.m., FSS
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Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
127–105 win at Chicago —
Started; 22 minutes, 14 points, 7–7 FG, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, +9, 15.9 game score
Season statistics
— 13 games, 4.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 63.0 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 3–5 FT
Up next —
Friday at Washington, 8 p.m.; Sunday vs. San Antonio, 6:30 p.m., NBATV
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
134-101 loss at Milwaukee —
21 minutes, 8 points, 2–6 FG, 2–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, -24, 3.7 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 8.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 40.4FG%, 37.0%3P, 84.7FT%
Up next — Saturday at Oklahoma City, 2 p.m., NBATV; Monday at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., ESPN
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
135–105 win at New Orleans — Didn’t play
Season statistics
— 19 games, 2.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Saturday, March 13 vs. Portland, 8 p.m.; Sunday vs. Portland, 8 p.m.
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Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
105–102 loss at Charlotte — 21 minutes, 5 points, 2–7 FG, 1–6 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, -3, 1.3 game score
Season statistics — 29 games, 10.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.9FG%, 42.4 3P%, 74.1FT%
Up next — Saturday, March 13 at Brooklyn, 7 p.m., NBATV; Monday vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
127–105 win at Chicago —
Started; 33 minutes, 9 points, 3–9 FG, 3–7 3FG, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, +21, 9.2 game score
Season statistics —
37 games, 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 39.1FG%, 37.7%3P, 65.0FT%
Up next —
Friday at Washington, 8 p.m.; Sunday vs. San Antonio, 6:30 p.m., NBATV
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Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
116–108 win vs. Dallas —
Didn’t play
Season statistics —
25 games, 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 40.9FG%, 29.1%3P, 80.0FT%
Up next — Saturday, March 11 vs. New York, 2 p.m., NBATV; Sunday vs. Memphis, 2 p.m.
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
127–121 win at Portland —
Missed game because of health and safety protocols
Season statistics —
34 games, 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 43.7FG%, 37.8%3P, 86.5FT%
Up next — Saturday, March 13 vs. Indiana, 10 p.m.; Monday vs. Memphis, 10 p.m.
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
127–121 loss vs. Phoenix —
21 minutes, 7 points, 3–4 FG, 1–1 3FG, 0–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, -2, 8.1 game score
Season statistics — 21 games, 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist, 48.6%FG, 47.4%3P, 84.6FT%
Up next — Saturday, March 13 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.; Sunday at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
134-101 loss at Milwaukee —
2 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, -1, -0.7 game score
Season statistics —
12 games, 2 points, 1–8 FG, 0–7 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Up next — Saturday at Oklahoma City, 2 p.m., NBATV; Monday at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., ESPN
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
127–105 loss vs. Philadelphia — Started; 25 points, 7–16 FG, 4–7 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, -11, 10.8 game score
Season statistics — 35 games, 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 42.0FG%, 36.0%3P, 89.6 FT
Up next — Friday vs. Miami, 9 p.m.; Sunday vs. Toronto, 9 p.m.

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