By R.L. Bynum
Reggie Bullock is playing his best basketball of the season and did it all in the New York Knicks’ 94–93 home win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.
Bullock, who came off the bench for the first time this season, contributed 20 points, six 3-pointers, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, and his steal of an Evan Fournier pass with 5.9 seconds left put the win away.
Bullock fought through a screen by Nikola Vucevic and when Fornier jumped and tried to pass it back to Vucevic, Bullock swiped it with his right hand and teammate Alec Berks dribbled out the clock.
“It was a great confidence builder after I pretty much turned the ball over real late in the game,” said Bullock, who had a turnover with 22.4 seconds left. “I knew I had to be locked in at the defensive end, and I was able to pull out a stop for my team and come up with a big play at the end.”
He scored more points with 21 on Feb. 7 against Miami but his 16.2 game score Thursday was a season-high. Bullock has scored double-figure points in four consecutive games for the first time this season. His previous best was three games in a row in mid-January. The six 3-pointers were his second-highest this season, topped only by his seven 3-pointers in that Miami game.
“I don’t care how we win,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. “If it calls for making five stops in a row, that’s what you have to do. If it calls for scoring five times in a row, that’s what you have to do. I want us to be great on both sides of the ball. We have to continue to play, but that was a heck of a play by Reggie.”
Theo Pinson didn’t play for New York.
Cole Anthony missed his 15th consecutive game as he tries to recover from a right rib non-displaced fracture. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Anthony isn’t expected back in the Magic lineup until April at the earliest.
Orlando coach Steve Clifford said that much of Anthony’s time has been spent in rehabilitation and that his skill work has been limited. Anthony was on the court Wednesday for the first time, doing some light shooting.
The only other Tar Heel whose team had a game and played in it was Nassir Little, who had two points and six rebounds in 16 minutes in Portland’s 101–93 home win over New Orleans.
How Tar Heels did Thursday, what’s next
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
94–93 loss at New York — Missed 15th 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 vs. Brooklyn, 8 p.m.; Sunday at Boston, 3:30 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
No game
Season statistics — 37 games, 16.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.4FG%, 36.7%3P, 82.6FT%
Up next —Friday at Boston, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
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Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 16 games, 4.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 63.0 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 3–5 FT
Up next — Saturday vs. Sacramento, 8 p.m.; Sunday at New York, 8 p.m.
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
94–93 win vs. Orlando — 36 minutes, 20 points, 7–16 FG, 6–13 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, +16, 16.2 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 41.8FG%, 38.9%3P, 85.2FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Philadelphia, 8 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
123–119 win at Phoenix — Didn’t play for the 17th consecutive game
Season statistics — 19 games, 2.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Friday at Phoenix, 10 p.m.; Monday vs. Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
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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 — Friday at. Houston, 8 p.m.; Sunday vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
No game
Season statistics — 41 games, 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 39.4FG%, 37.9%3P, 65.0FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. Sacramento, 8 p.m.; Sunday at New York, 8 p.m.
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Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
116–93 loss at Atlanta — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 28 games, 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 40.4FG%, 29.2%3P, 80.8FT%
Up next — Sunday at Houston, 2 p.m.; Monday at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
123–119 loss vs. Minnesota — Missed fifth consecutive game under 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 — Friday vs. Minnesota, 10 p.m.; Sunday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., NBATV
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
101–93 win vs. New Orleans — 16 minutes, 2 points, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, +8, 4.4 game score
Season statistics — 25 games, 5.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist, 46.1%FG, 37.5%3P, 86.7FT%
Up next — Friday vs. Dallas, 10 p.m., NBATV; Sunday vs. Dallas, 10 p.m.
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
94–93 win vs. Orlando — Didn’t play for the third consecutive game
Season statistics — 12 games, 2 points, 1–8 FG, 0–7 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Up next — Sunday vs. Philadelphia, 8 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
No game
Season statistics — 39 games, 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 41.1FG%, 34.4%3P, 88.9 FT
Up next — Friday at Denver, 9 p.m.; Sunday at Detroit, 7 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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