Tar Heels in NBA: White reacts positively to being benched for the first time this season; Green scores 16

By R.L. Bynum

For the first time all season, Coby White and former Duke player Wendell Carter Jr. came off the bench for the Chicago Bulls as Coach Billy Donovan tried to shake things up in the wake of two consecutive defeats and four losses in the last six games.

It seemed to work as Chicago rolled to a 118–95 home victory over the Toronto Raptors, who were playing without Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet because of health and safety protocols.

In 27 minutes, the eight-fewest this season, White collected 13 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds, five assists and three turnovers.

Coach Billy Donovan replaced White and Carter in the starting lineup with Tomáš Satoranský and Thad Young.

“I think there are some people who look at development as just throw a guy out there and let him play through all his mistakes and let him get better. These guys need to learn how to win. The number one component that goes into winning is sacrifice. This was a situation where Coby and Wendell were put in situations to sacrifice,” Donovan said. “They were like, ‘Listen, Billy, if you feel that this is the best thing, that’s fine. We’ll go along with it.’ ”

Indeed, White is being positive about the move.

“We weren’t getting off to a good start with that unit, so he had to make a change as a coach,” White said. “I was all for it. I just want to win at the end of the day. It’s really no process for me. It’s already processed. I know what I’ve got to do. I’m not going to let that affect me any type of way. I’m just still going to be me and play with that joy. It’s not going to take away my joy for the game.”

Coming off the bench isn’t new for White, who only started last season on March 10, which turned out to be the season-finale. For Carter, though, it was his first time in 113 career games coming off the bench.


Danny Green scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter of Philadelphia’s 134–99 home blowout of San Antonio for the 76ers’ fifth consecutive victory.

It was tied for the second-highest scoring game of the season for Green, who had four 3-pointers, five rebounds and two blocks. His season-high was 29 points Jan. 12 against Miami and he also scored 16 on Feb. 3 at Charlotte. His 13.6 game score is tied for fifth-best this season.

Tony Bradley started his third game of the season and second in three games with Joel Embiid out. Bradley collected four points, eight rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.


Justin Jackson got his third start of the season in Oklahoma City’s 128–122 win over Memphis, collecting four points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 21 minutes. That was the most playing time for Jackson since playing 34 minutes Feb. 14.


Nassir Little had four points and four rebounds in 19 minutes during Portland’s 114–112 loss at Minnesota. For the 15th consecutive game, Ed Davis didn’t play for the Timberwolves.

How Tar Heels did Sunday, what’s next

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
102–97 loss vs. Miami —
Missed 14th 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 — Thursday at New York, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Brooklyn, 8 p.m.
——————————————————
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
No game
Season statistics
— 35 games, 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.2FG%, 37.8%3P, 82.3FT%
Up next — Monday at Charlotte, 7 p.m., FSS; Wednesday at Washington, 7 p.m.
——————————————————
Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
134–99 win vs. San Antonio —
Started; 21 minutes, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, +18, 7.5 game score
Season statistics
— 15 games, 4.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 64.2 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 3–5 FT
Up next —
Tuesday at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m., ESPN
——————————————————
Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics — 34 games, 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 40.5FG%, 37.0%3P, 84.6FT%
Up next — Monday at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., ESPN; Tuesday at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
——————————————————
Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
114–112 win vs. Portland — Didn’t play for the 15th consecutive game
Season statistics
— 19 games, 2.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Tuesday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m.; Thursday at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
——————————————————
Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
No game
Season statistics —
30 games, 10.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.6FG%, 42.2 3P%, 74.1FT%
Up next — Monday vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
——————————————————
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
134–99 win vs. San Antonio —
Started; 16 points, 6–9 FG, 4–7 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, +24, 13.6 game score
Season statistics —
39 games, 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 40.4FG%, 38.4%3P, 65.0FT%
Up next —
Tuesday at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m., ESPN
——————————————————
Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
128–122 win vs. Memphis —
Started; 21 minutes, 4 points, 1–5 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -3, 1.7 game score
Season statistics —
27 games, 6.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 40.4FG%, 29.9%3P, 79.2FT%
Up next — Tuesday at Chicago, 8 p.m.; Thursday at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
——————————————————
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
No game
Season statistics —
34 games, 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 43.7FG%, 37.8%3P, 86.5FT%
Up next — Monday vs. Memphis, 10 p.m.; Thursday vs. Minnesota, 10 p.m.
——————————————————
Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
114–112 loss at Minnesota —
19 minutes, 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–3 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, -1, 1.4 game score
Season statistics —
23 games, 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist, 47.7%FG, 40.0%3P, 84.6FT%
Up next — Tuesday vs. New Orleans, 10 p.m. TNT; Thursday vs. New Orleans, 10 p.m.
——————————————————
Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics —
12 games, 2 points, 1–8 FG, 0–7 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Up next — Monday at Brooklyn, 8 p.m., ESPN; Tuesday at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
——————————————————
Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
118–95 win vs. Toronto — 27 minutes, 13 points, 5–12 FG, 2–8 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, +24, 7.4 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 16.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 41.5FG%, 35.3%3P, 88.6 FT
Up next — Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.; Wednesday vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.

What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.

Leave a comment