By R.L. Bynum
Reggie Bullock keeps on playing well and all the New York Knicks can do is win.
Bullock contributed 16 points, five 3-pointers, four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block as the Knicks earned a 109–97 home victory Tuesday night over the Charlotte Hornets for their seventh consecutive victory.
The Madison Square Garden crowd was appreciative, too, chanting his name loudly as he was being interviewed after the game. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has called Bullock the team’s “unsung hero.”
“I’m on a roll,” Bullock said “It’s been growing since the beginning of the season. Coach has a lot of faith in me defensively to guard the other team’s best player. You just try to go out and just play hard defensively. And, with the 3-point shooting, Julius [Randle] is doing a great job and my teammates are doing a great job of spreading the floor and I’ve just got to keep shooting with confidence. But definitely in a groove right now just got to keep it going.”
Read Steve Kirschner’s memories of being the primary sports information contact for Hall of Fame coaches Dean Smith and Roy Williams. There are some terrific stories in this media notebook.
Bullock’s 3-pointer keyed a 7–0 Knicks run that pushed their lead to 12 points with 6:40 left.
Bullock, always New York’s best defensive player, has scored in double figures for a season-high six consecutive games. He wasn’t that consistent offensively before the All-Star break but has turned up his offense a lot since then.
Although Theo Pinson didn’t play for the ninth consecutive game, he gets praise for being a terrific teammate, as shown in the above tweet.
It was another good all-around game for Harrison Barnes but another Sacramento loss. In 39 minutes, he collected 20 points, two 3-pointers, eight rebounds and five assists in the Kings’ 134–120 home loss to Minnesota.
Barnes hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to give the Kings a 113–112 edge with 7:11 left, but the Timberwolves took control from there.
Barnes’ 20.0 game score was his 14th game this season with a 20.0 score or higher.
Ed Davis didn’t play for Minnesota.
Another Tar Heel who played well in a loss was Cole Anthony. He had 17 points, five rebounds, eight assists, two steals and only two turnovers for a 15.2 game score in Orlando’s 112–96 loss at Atlanta.
Anthony has scored in double figures for six consecutive games and has 17 assists in the last two games.
In 24 minutes of Portland’s 113–112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Nassir Little had seven points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block.
How Tar Heels did Tuesday, what’s next
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
112–96 loss at Atlanta — Started; 31 minutes, 17 points, 6–15 FG, 1–6 3FG, 4–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, -2, 15.2 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 38.4FG%, 29.6%3P, 84.6FT
Up next — Thursday vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m.; Sunday vs. Indiana, 8 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
134–120 loss vs. Minnesota — Started; 39 minutes, 20 points, 6–11 FG, 2–4 3FG, 6–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 turnover, -6, 20.0 game score
Season statistics — 55 games, 15.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.3FG%, 37.6%3P, 83.1FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Minnesota, 10 p.m.; Sunday at Golden State, 10 p.m., NBATV
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Tony Bradley, Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 33 games, 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 67.3 FG%, 0–2 3FG, 70.7FT%
Up next — Wednesday at Indiana, 7 p.m.; Friday vs. Washington, 8 p.m.
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
109–97 win vs. Charlotte — Started; 38 minutes, 16 points, 5–12 FG, 5–12 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, +6, 14.3 game score
Season statistics — 52 games, 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 43.4FG%, 40.1%3P, 89.2FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Atlanta 8 p.m.; Saturday vs. Toronto, 1 p.m., ESPN
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
134–120 win at Sacramento — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 22 games, 2.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 43.2FG%, 0–0 3FG, 83.3FT%
Up next — Wednesday at Sacramento, 10 p.m.; Saturday at Utah, 9 p.m.
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Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
No game
Season statistics — 41 games, 9.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.7FG%, 42.4 3P%, 78.8FT%
Up next — Wednesday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.; Thursday at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
No game
Season statistics — 56 games, 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 42.1FG%, 41.5%3P, 75.8FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Phoenix, 7 p.m., NBATV; Thursday at Milwaukee, 7 p.m., TNT
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
No game
Season statistics — 51 games, 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.6FG%, 38.7%3P, 87.2FT%
Up next — Wednesday at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., NBATV; Thursday at Boston, 7 p.m.
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
113–112 loss vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 24 minutes, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, +4, 10.7 game score
Season statistics — 38 games, 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 47.6%FG, 37.0%3P, 82.5FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Denver, 10 p.m.; Friday vs. Memphis, 10 p.m.
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
109–97 win vs. Charlotte — Didn’t play for the ninth consecutive game
Season statistics — 14 games, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Up next — Wednesday vs. Atlanta 8 p.m.; Saturday vs. Toronto, 1 p.m., ESPN
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
No game
Season statistics — 54 games, 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 40.7FG%, 34.0%3P, 91.2 FT%
Up next — Wednesday at Cleveland, 7 p.m.; Thursday vs. Charlotte, 9 p.m., BSSE
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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