By R.L. Bynum
Reggie Bullock got off to a hot start Saturday night and that helped propel New York to a 125–81 road victory over Detroit, the Knicks’ largest margin of victory since 1996.
Bullock scored 14 of his season-high 22 points and four of his six 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Knicks took a 41–15 lead into the second quarter. The Pistons needed nearly 10 minutes to score more points than Bullock, who was outscoring them 12–7 at one point.
Bullock and Julius Randle, who scored 29, combined to score scored 28 of the Knicks’ first 30 points.
“Obviously, I played [in Detroit] for four years, but give credit to my teammates. Give praise to Jules,” said Bullock, who had his third game this season with at least six 3-pointers. “He definitely got me involved. I tried to space for him, set screens, get people off of him and just space.”
That was Bullock’s best scoring game since he had 33 points for Detroit against Minnesota on Dec. 19, 2018, and his 20.0 game score was his best since putting up a 25.3 in that same game.
“He’s been doing a great job all year finding shooters, finding perimeter players to be able to put the ball in the hole. I came out today and shots were falling for me, so I just kept shooting,” said Bullock, who got a lot of opportunities on pick and rolls.
After not getting off the bench for the previous 10 games, Theo Pinson was scoreless in three minutes in his first action since March 13.
Wayne Ellington missed all three shots in 12 scoreless minutes for Detroit.
After missing two games with a sprained right thumb, Nassir Little played well in Portland’s 133–85 home win over Tony Bradley, Justin Jackson and Oklahoma City.
Little had his best game since late February with 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting with two 3-pointers, eight rebounds, and two assists for a 12.9 game score.
Bradley had his best game of the four since Philadelphia traded him to the Thunder last month. In 25 minutes, he had 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block for a 14.9 game score.
Justin Jackson had a rough shooting night, missing all eight shots in 17 scoreless minutes.
In this story in The Okahoman, Jackson and Bradley talked about how much Coach Roy Williams meant to them and how the teammates on the 2017 national championship team are happy to reconnect.
Even though his minutes haven’t been consistent, Jackson is always supportive from the bench and has a good attitude, according to Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.
“It is noticeable in the games,” Daigneault told The Oklahoman. “He’s incredibly encouraging, he roots for his teammates’ success, and this is a guy that could make the argument that he could play more minutes or could have a larger role. He puts that aside for the benefit of his teammates and has earned a lot of respect from everyone, including me, because of that.”
With Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee soreness) out of the Milwaukee lineup, the Bucks barely slipped past Sacramento 129–128. Harrison Barnes collected nine points, four rebounds, three assists and tied his career high with four steals. That’s his fourth career four-steal game and second this season.
Coby White is in COVID-19 protocols and will miss the Bulls game Sunday against Brooklyn.
“For him, he’s just got a test right now that they’re looking deeper into,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “We’ll probably find out more in the next 24-48 hours.”
How Tar Heels did Saturday, what’s next
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
137–91 loss at Utah — Missed 24th consecutive game with a right first 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 — Sunday at Denver, 10 p.m., NBATV; Wednesday vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
129–128 loss vs. Milwaukee — 35 minutes, 9 points, 3–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, +/- of 0, 10.4 game score
Season statistics — 47 games, 15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 48.9FG%, 36.8%3P, 82.9FT%
Up next — Monday at Minnesota, 7 p.m.; Thursday vs. Detroit, 10 p.m.
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Tony Bradley, Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward
133–85 loss at Portland — 25 minutes, 14 points, 6–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, -6, 14.9 game score
Season statistics — 24 games, 6.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 67.7 FG%, 0–2 3FG, 75.2FT%
Up next — Monday vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Charlotte, 8 p.m., BSSE
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
125–81 win at Detroit — Started; 28 minutes, 22 points, 8–12 FG, 6–10 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, +27, 20.0 game score
Season statistics — 43 games, 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 42.7FG%, 40.0%3P, 86.7FT%
Up next — Monday at Brooklyn, 7 p.m., NBATV; Wednesday at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
122–113 loss vs. Philadelphia — Didn’t play for the 26th consecutive game
Season statistics — 19 games, 2.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Monday vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m.; Wednesday at Indiana, 7 p.m.
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Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
125–81 loss vs. New York — 12 minutes, 0 points, 0–3 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, -16, -1.1 game score
Season statistics — 36 games, 10.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.8FG%, 42.4 3P%, 77.4FT%
Up next — Monday at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Denver, 9 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
122–113 win vs. Minnesota — Started; 27 minutes, 9 points, 3–6 FG, 3–6 3FG, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, +15, 9.4 game score
Season statistics — 49 games, 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 41.5FG%, 40.8%3P, 72.4FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Boston, 7:30 p.m., TNT
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Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
133–85 loss at Portland — 17 minutes, 0 points, 0–8 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, -7, -4.0 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 40.6FG%, 30.6%3P, 85.7FT%
Up next — Monday vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Charlotte, 8 p.m., BSSE
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
No game
Season statistics — 42 games, 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.1FG%, 38.1%3P, 87.2FT%
Up next — Monday at Houston, 8 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Utah, 10 p.m., ESPN
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
133–85 win vs. Oklahoma City — 24 minutes, 13 points, 5–7 FG, 2–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, +12, 12.9 game score
Season statistics — 30 games, 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 46.5%FG, 38.7%3P, 86.1FT%
Up next — Tuesday vs. Portland, 10 p.m.; Thursday at Utah, 10 p.m.
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
125–81 win at Detroit — 3 minutes, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, +4, -1.1 game score
Season statistics — 14 games, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Up next — Monday at Brooklyn, 7 p.m., NBATV; Wednesday at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
No game
Season statistics — 45 games, 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 40.8FG%, 34.71%3P, 89.5 FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Brooklyn, 2 p.m.; Tuesday at Indiana, 7 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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