By R.L. Bynum
It may be too late to put Chicago in the playoffs, but Coby White and Zach LaVine have the Bulls playing well.
Both scored 25 points Friday night as the Bulls rolled to a 121–99 home victory Friday over the Boston Celtics for their second consecutive game.
The Bulls are three games behind Washington and 3½ back of Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff spots with five games left.
White was 7 of 12 from 3-point range, just missing his career-high of eight 3-pointers on Feb. 10 against New Orleans. He added seven rebounds and five assists for a 23.1 game score, this third-best this season.
White’s spot in the starting lineup is solidified and his confidence is soaring.
“It’s just kind of slowing down and, like I always say, there’s always room for progress,” White said. “So, I know I’ve got a long way to go but it’s just slowing down, man. My teammates are behind me, the coaching staff is behind me. Everybody’s patient, so it’s started to slow down. I’m just trying to focus on making reads out there on the court. Just giving them the ball in the spots that they want it.”
White dealt with some tough weeks and a month of coming off the bench but it didn’t deter him.
“I never really doubt myself,” White said. “The people around me don’t even allow me to doubt myself. My circle doesn’t allow me to doubt myself. So, I just continue to keep striving, continue to keep pushing. Everything will work itself out.”
For the second consecutive night, the Charlotte Hornets had to deal with a former UNC point guard. The Hornets rebounded from a loss the night before to Chicago and Coby White with a 122–112 victory over Orlando and Cole Anthony.
With UNC coach Hubert Davis looking on, Anthony had a big scoring night with 20 points and two 3-pointers but only had one assist against two turnovers.
Reggie Bullock had 12 points and two 3-pointers but New York lost 128–105 at Phoenix for the Knicks’ second consecutive defeat. Bullock’s 6.7 game score was his lowest in the last 10 games.
Cameron Johnson missed the game for the Suns with a right wrist injury.
Danny Green had eight points and five rebounds in Philadelphia’s 109–107 win against New Orleans for the Sixers’ seventh consecutive victory.
Sacramento’s Harrison Barnes missed his sixth consecutive game with left adductor tightness.
Milwaukee has played 11 games since signing Justin Jackson and he still hasn’t made his Bucks debut. Jackson has been inactive for six of those games.
How Tar Heels did Friday, what’s next
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
122–112 loss at Charlotte — Started; 29 minutes, 20 points, 6–14 FG, 2–5 3FG, 6–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, -5, 13.5 game score
Season statistics — 42 games, 12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 39.4FG%, 33.3%3P, 82.7FT
Up next — Sunday vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Milwaukee, 9 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
113–104 loss vs. San Antonio — Missed sixth consecutive game with left adductor tightness
Season statistics — 58 games, 16.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.7FG%, 39.1%3P, 83.0FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Oklahoma City, 10 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City, 10 p.m.
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Tony Bradley, Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 39 games, 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 67.0 FG%, 0–2 3FG, 66.7FT%
Up next — Saturday at Golden State, 10 p.m.; Sunday at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
128–105 loss at Phoenix — Started; 38 minutes, 12 points, 3–11 FG, 2–8 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, -22, 6.7 game score
Season statistics — 60 games, 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.2FG%, 40.9%3P, 90.4FT%
Up next — Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers, 3:30 p.m., ESPN; Tuesday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., TNT
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
121–112 loss at Miami — Didn’t play for the ninth consecutive game
Season statistics — 22 games, 2.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 43.2FG%, 0–0 3FG, 83.3FT%
Up next — Sunday at Orlando, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Detroit, 7 p.m.
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Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
No game
Season statistics — 45 games, 9.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.7FG%, 42.8 3P%, 80.0FT%
Up next — Saturday at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.; Sunday vs. Chicago, 8 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
109–107 win vs. New Orleans — Started; 31 minutes, 8 points, 3–10 FG, 2–8 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, +18, 3.8 game score
Season statistics — 65 games, 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 41.4FG%, 40.4%3P, 77.1FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.; Tuesday at Indiana, 8 p.m.
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Justin Jackson, Milwaukee Bucks forward
141–133 win vs. Houston — Didn’t play; hasn’t played in the 11 games since signing with Bucks; Friday was the sixth of those games in which he was inactive
Season statistics — 33 games, 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 40.6FG%, 30.6%3P, 85.7FT%
Up next — Monday at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Orlando, 9 p.m.
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
128–105 win vs. New York — Missed game with a right wrist injury
Season statistics — 60 games, 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 42.0FG%, 34.9%3P, 84.7FT%
Up next — Sunday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., NBATV; Tuesday at Golden State, 10 p.m.
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
106–101 win vs. Los Angeles Lakers — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 45 games, 4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 45.3%FG, 35.4%3P, 80.0FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. San Antonio, 10 p.m.; Monday vs. Houston, 10 p.m.
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
128–105 loss at Phoenix — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 17 games, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–8 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Up next — Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers, 3:30 p.m., ESPN; Tuesday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., TNT
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
121–99 win vs. Boston — Started; 33 minutes, 25 points, 9–16 FG, 7–12 3FG, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, +13, 23.1 game score
Season statistics — 64 games, 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 41.6FG%, 35.6%3P, 90.6 FT%
Up next — Sunday at Detroit, 8 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Brooklyn, 8 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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