By R.L. Bynum
Reggie Bullock has dealt with struggles and shooting slumps in his first season with the Dallas Mavericks but produced his best game in more than two years Saturday night.
Bullock came off the bench to score 23 points on eight field goals and six 3-pointers for a 20.4 game score, all season-highs, in the Mavericks’ 132–104 home win over the Indiana Pacers.
That’s his best game score since putting up a 25.3 for Detroit in a 33-point game at Minnesota on Dec. 19, 2019.
“I’m just trying to continue to find my shot,” said Bullock, whose career-high is seven 3-pointers, which he has done twice. “But it’s all about me just staying confident, staying consistent and just trying to continue to take the shots.”
The Mavericks (29–21, fifth in the Western Conference) are 10–1 when Bullock scores at least 10 points and 7–0 when he scores 15 or more. It was his best points output since scoring 24 for the New York Knicks in a road win over the Los Angeles Clippers last season on May 9. It was his first game with at least six 3-pointers this season after doing that four times last season.
Bullock will be counted on to play a bigger role after Tim Hardaway Jr. fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot Tuesday and is out indefinitely.
“I know what I’m capable of doing,” Bullock said. “Now that he’s down, it’s the next man up.”
Bullock scored 14 of his points and hit all five shots, including three 3-pointers, in the second quarter to help Dallas take a 72–60 halftime lead.
After scoring 15 points at Portland on Wednesday, Bullock has scored in double figures in consecutive games for only the second time this season after doing it in early November.
Theo Pinson had three points on a 3-pointer in five minutes for Dallas.
Harrison Barnes, who scored 10 of his 16 points in the first half and collected eight rebounds and five assists, had a chance to win the game for the Sacramento Kings.
He missed a 3-point attempt in the final second as the Kings (18–33) fell 103–101 on the road to Danny Green’s Philadelphia 76ers.
Green scored 11 points and three 3-pointers in 16 minutes for the Sixers. He still is on a minutes restriction in his second game back after missing seven games with right hip pain.
Joel Embiid scored 36 points as Philadelphia (30–19, third in the Eastern Conference) won its fourth consecutive game.
“He’s making the right plays,” Green said of Embiid.
When Green went to the dressing room in the middle of the game, he had Sixers coach Doc Rivers worried.
“I thought he was injured again and he told me ‘no, I have to go to the bathroom.’ I’ve never heard of that one,” Rivers said.
With his three 3-pointers, Green tied Mike Bibby for 39th on the all-time NBA 3-pointers list at 1,517.
In the G League, Justin Jackson scored 22 points with three 3-pointers, five rebounds and four assists in his Texas Legends’ 117–100 home loss to the South Bay Lakers.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 36 games, 17.9 points, 39.2 FG%, 32.4 3FG%, 83.8 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Dallas; 8 p.m. Tuesday at Chicago
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
103–101 loss at Philadelphia — Started; 38 minutes, 16 points, 5–16 FG, 2–7 3FG, 4–6 FT, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 turnover, +5, 10.9 game score
Season statistics — 46 games, 16.5 points, 44.6 FG%, 40.7 3FG%, 83.0 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Up next — 7:30 Monday at New York; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Brooklyn
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 34 games, 3.4 points, 56.5 FG%, 76.5 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 3:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Portland; 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Orlando
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
132–104 win vs. Indiana — 24 minutes, 23 points, 8–11 FG, 6–8 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, +21, 20.4 game score
Season statistics — 42 games, 6.8 points, 40.3 FG%, 33.7 3P%, 78.3 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Sunday at Orlando; 8:30 Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 15 games, 1.4 points, 64.3 FG%, 37.5 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday at Detroit; 7 p.m. Monday vs. New Orleans
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 33 games, 6.2 points, 39.5 FG%, 38.8 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta; 10:30 Wednesday vs. Portland
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
103–101 win vs. Sacramento — 16 minutes, 11 points, 4–5 FG, 3–4 3FG, 1 rebound, +2, 10.4 game score
Season statistics — 31 games, 6.9 points, 41.7 FG%, 39.3 3FG%, 12–14 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Memphis; 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Washington
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 44 games, 11.8 points, 45.4 FG%, 43.1 3FG%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Sunday vs. San Antonio; 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Brooklyn, TNT
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Off Saturday; likely out for season with a labral tear in his left shoulder
Season statistics — 42 games, 9.8 points, 46.0 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 3:30 Sunday at Chicago; 8 p.m. Monday at Oklahoma City
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
132–105 win vs. Indiana — 5 minutes, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, -3, 2.7 game score
NBA season statistics — 15 games, 1.9 points, 30.0 FG%, 26.1 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1.2 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
G League season statistics — 13 games, 15.4 points, 40.6 FG%, 39.2 3FG%, 83.3 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Up next — 7 p.m. Sunday at Orlando; 8:30 Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
110–106 loss at Golden State — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 22 games, 6.5 points, 58.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 65.2% FT, 5.0 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
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. Tuesday at Phoenix, TNT; 10 p.m. Wednesday at Sacramento
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 30 games, 12.7 points, 44.4 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 3:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Portland; 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Orlando
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In the G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
117–100 loss vs. South Bay Lakers — Started; 36 minutes, 22 points, 5–19 FG, 3–10 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 turnovers, -17
NBA season statistics — 4 games, 3.8 points, 62.5% FG, 60% 3FG, 1.5 rebounds
G League season statistics— 18 games, 23.3 points, 43.3% FG, 40.4% 3FG, 82.6 FT%, 7.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 Friday vs. Stockton Kings
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