By R.L. Bynum
It’s not clear why Wayne Ellington didn’t play in the Los Angeles Lakers’ previous two games. What is clear after Sunday night’s game is that his instant offense was being wasted on the bench.
By the time Ellington finally got into their home game against Memphis a minute into the fourth quarter, the Lakers already trailed by 26 points.
Ellington put on an offensive show for the rest of the game, scoring 16 points and four 3-pointers in 11 minutes, capped by a step-back 3 with 22.3 seconds left, in the Lakers’ 127–119 home loss.
Los Angeles chopped 19 points off its deficit at one point with Ellington on the court.
The only explanation in the NBA game reports for the previous two games as to why Ellington didn’t play was “DNP (Coach’s Decision).” Perhaps a different decision will be made in upcoming games after the Lakers fell to 21–20.
With a 13.4 game score, that was his fourth double-digit game score of the season. He played more than 21 minutes in the other three games, with his best a 14.1 in a 14-point game at Indiana on Nov. 24. He tied with DeAndre Jordan (who went scoreless) for the best +/- on the team for the game at +19.
Ellington was 6 of 7 from the floor and 4 of 5 from 3-point range.
The host Dallas Mavericks ended the Chicago Bulls’ win streak at nine with a 113–99 victory.
Reggie Bullock came off the bench after starting the previous game and had five points, two rebounds and two assists for the Mavericks. Theo Pinson, who signed a two-way contract with the Mavericks last week, wasn’t active for the game.
Coby White collected 13 points, four rebounds and two assists for Chicago while Tony Bradley contributed two points, five rebounds and a block in 10 minutes.
White scored 11 of his points in the first half and extended his streak of double-figure scoring games to 13. It was the Bulls’ first loss since White came back from the NBA’s health-and-safety protocols.
In another game with multiple Tar Heels, Nassir Little had 13 points, three rebounds and two assists in Portland’s 103–88 home victory over Sacramento. Harrison Barnes collected 13 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block for the Kings.
Little was 3 of 8 from 3-point range and is 11 of 25 from outside the arc in the last four games.
Cole Anthony had a tough shooting night, making only 4 of 17 shots and finishing with 12 points and six rebounds in Orlando’s 102–100 home loss to Washington.
It was the ninth consecutive loss for the Magic and seventh in a row at home. Orlando fell to 2–15 at home and league-worst 7–34 overall.
Day’Ron Sharpe had seven points, six rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes of Brooklyn’s 121–119 overtime victory over San Antonio.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
102–100 loss vs. Washington — Started; 35 minutes, 12 points, 4–17 FG, 2–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, +/- of 0, 4.0 game score
Season statistics — 27 games, 19.9 points, 40.6 FG%, 34.8 3FG%, 86.0 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Washington; 7 p.m. Friday at Charlotte, BSSE
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
103–88 loss at Portland — Started; 31 minutes, 13 points, 5–10 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, -15, 11.8 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 16.2 points, 44.7 FG%, 41.8 3FG%, 83.3 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Monday vs. Cleveland; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
113–99 loss at Dallas — 10 minutes, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 block, +2, +13, 2.8 game score
Season statistics — 25 games, 3.8 points, 58.7 FG%, 4.4 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Detroit; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Brooklyn, ESPN
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
113–99 win vs. Chicago — 18 minutes, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, +13, 4.6 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 6.6 points, 37.9 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 76.5 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 7:30 Wednesday at New York, ESPN; 10 p.m. Friday at Memphis, ESPN
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
96–82 loss at Golden State — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 12 games, 1.6 points, 75.0 FG%, 16.7 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 0.1 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Monday at Sacramento; 9 p.m. Wednesday at Utah
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
127–119 loss vs. Memphis — 11 minutes, 16 points, 6–7 FG, 4–5 3FG, 1 rebound, +19, 13.4 game score
Season statistics — 28 games, 6.7 points, 40.8 FG%, 39.2 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Wednesday at Sacramento; 9 p.m. Saturday at Denver, NBATV
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 27 games, 6.7 points, 40.8 FG%, 38.2 3FG%, 8–8 FT, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Monday at Houston; 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Charlotte
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Justin Jackson, Phoenix Suns forward
Off Sunday
NBA season statistics — 4 games, 3.8 points, 62.5% FG, 60% 3FG, 1.5 rebounds
G League season statistics for Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) — 10 games, 22.7 points, 47.3% FG, 41.4% 3FG, 79.2 FT%, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals
Up next — 7:30 Tuesday at Toronto; 7 p.m. Friday at Indiana
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 39 games, 11.9 points, 45.8 FG%, 43.8 3FG%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 7:30 Tuesday at Toronto; 7 p.m. Friday at Indiana
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
103–88 win vs. Sacramento — Started; 34 minutes, 13 points, 4–13 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2–2 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, +13, 6.6 game score
Season statistics — 34 games, 9.0 points, 45.1 FG%, 31.6 3P%, 71.0 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Monday vs. Brooklyn; 10 p.m. Thursday at Denver, TNT
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
113–99 win vs. Chicago — Not active for game
NBA season statistics — 10 games, 2.5 points, 29.6 FG, 25.0 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
G League season statistics with Maine Celtics — 13 games, 15.1 points, 43.4 FG%, 40.6 3FG%, 88.5 FT%, 6.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Up next — 7:30 Wednesday at New York, ESPN; 10 p.m. Friday at Memphis, ESPN
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
121–119 OT win vs. San Antonio — 11 minutes, 7 points, 3–8 FG, 1–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +1, 5.2 game score
Season NBA statistics — 12 games, 3.6 points, 62.1 FG%, 33.3% 3P%, 46.2% FT, 3.0 rebounds
Season G League statistics — 4 games, 18.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 33.33P%, 85.7 FT%, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 2.6 blocks
Up next — 10 p.m. Monday at Portland; 10 p.m. Wednesday at Chicago, ESPN
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
113–99 loss at Dallas — 27 minutes, 13 points, 5–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, -17, 10.9 game score
Season statistics — 19 games, 11.3 points, 45.1 FG%, 38.0 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Detroit; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Brooklyn, ESPN
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