Tar Heels in NBA: Bullock, Green big contributors to playoff wins, and Green adds huge late dunk

By R.L. Bynum

Reggie Bullock and Danny Green each scored 11 points and played big minutes as their teams won Game 2s in the first round of the playoffs Monday night.

The win for Bullock’s Dallas Mavericks, a 110–104 home triumph over the Utah Jazz, was huge because it evened the series at 1 as it shifts Thursday for the first of two games in Utah.

Bullock played 45 minutes, 11 seconds, the most playing time of any player in Monday’s three playoff games, and was stellar again on defense. He had three of the Mavericks’ team playoff record 22 3-pointers, four rebounds, four assists and a steal for an 11.9 game score.

Dallas got the victory despite playing for the second consecutive game without Luka Doncic (calf injury). Jalen Brunson picked up most of the slack with 41 points.

Just before Dorian Finney-Smith hit a huge 3-pointer with 2:24 left to push the Mavericks’ lead to five, Bullock took out Danuel House Jr. at midcourt with a screen.

Bullock has put up double-digit game scores in both playoff games, the first time he’s done that in consecutive games since March 27 and 29.


Green played 38 minutes, with three 3-pointers, three assists, two blocks and a steal as host Philadelphia easily beat Toronto 112–97 to take a commanding 2–0 series lead as the series moves to Toronto for two games beginning Wednesday night.

All five starters, including Green, scored in double figures, led by 31 from Joel Embiid. Green said Embiid and James Harden make it easier for him to get shots.

”[Joel] and James, when they’re attacking the basket and putting pressure on the paint, I’m getting great open looks,” Green said. “We shot 50 [percent] last game, 46 tonight, if we continue to shoot that well, it will be an easier series for us.”

The moment that got the attention of the crowd and his teammates was when the 34-year-old Green soared for a one-handed fourth-quarter dunk and put an exclamation point on the victory.

“I knew that the last time I tried to get a breakaway layup against them, it was denied,” Green said. “They have a lot of length; they block a lot of shots. So you go through them, you have to make sure you get to the rim. They were making a run. Just trying to slow down their run and make sure we kept scoring, so I had to make sure I got an easy two.”

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Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey kiddingly said that he was worried about Green when he made that drive.

”I think we were all just praying that he was OK,” Sixers teammate Tyrese Maxey said.


On Tuesday, New Orleans evened its series with host Phoenix 125–114 as it shifts to New Orleans for the next two games, starting on Friday.

Cameron Johnson scored 11 points for the Suns but was 4 of 10 from the floor and 1 of 6 from 3-point range with four rebounds.

He swiped two steals to give him 20 for his career in the playoffs. His steal and dunk with 8:22 left gave Phoenix a one-point lead.

Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off Monday and Tuesday
Playoff statistics — Didn’t play in opener
Regular-season statistics —
55 games, 3.0 points, 58.5 FG%, 65.5 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Series scores, schedule
Sunday: Milwaukee 93, Chicago 86, Bucks lead 1–0
Wednesday at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Friday at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., ABC
Sunday, April 24 at Chicago, 1 p.m., ABC
x — Wednesday, April 27 at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
x — Friday, April 29 at Chicago, TBD, TBD
x — Sunday, May 1 at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
———————————————
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
110–104 Game 2 Monday win vs. Utah —
Started; 45 minutes, 11 points, 4–7 FG, 3–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 4 assists 1 steal, +13, 11.9 game score
Playoff statistics — 2 games, 13.0 points, 52.9 FG%, 46.2 3P%, 1–1 FT, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Regular-season statistics —
68 games, 8.6 points, 40.1 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Series scores, schedule
Saturday: Utah 99, Dallas 93
Monday: Dallas 110, Utah 105; series tied at 1
Thursday at Utah, 9 p.m., NBATV
Saturday, April 23 at Utah, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Monday, April 25: Utah at Dallas, 9:30, TNT
x — Thursday, April 28: Dallas at Utah, TBD, TBD
x — Saturday, April 30: Utah at Dallas, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
———————————————
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
112–97 Game 2 Monday win vs. Toronto —
Started; 38 minutes, 11 points, 4–12 FG, 3–9 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, +18, 7.6 game score
Playoff statistics — 2 games, 6.5 points, 27.8 FG%, 21.4 3FG%, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Regular-season statistics —
62 games, 5.9 points, 39.4 FG%, 38.0 3FG%, 20–24 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Series scores, schedule
Saturday: Philadelphia 131, Toronto 111
Monday: Philadephia 112, Toronto 97; Sixers lead series 2–0
Wednesday at Toronto, 8 p.m., NBATV
Saturday at Toronto, 2 p.m., TNT
x — Monday, April 25 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., NBATV
x — Thursday, April 28 at Toronto, TBD, TBD
x — Saturday, April 30 at Philadelphia, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
———————————————
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
125–114 Game 2 Tuesday loss vs. New Orleans —
26 minutes, 11 points, 4–10 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 turnover, -11
Playoff statistics — 2 games, 12.0 points, 56.3 FG%, 25.0 3FG%, 57.1 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 0 assists
Regular-season statistics —
66 games, 12.5 points, 46.0 FG%, 42.5 3FG%, 86.0 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Series scores, schedule
Sunday: Phoenix 110, New Orleans 99
Tuesday: New Orleans 125, Phoenix 114; series tied at 1
Friday at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, April 24 at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Tuesday, April 26: New Orleans at Phoenix, TBD, TBD
x —Thursday, April 28: Phoenix at New Orleans, TBD, TBD
x —Saturday, April 30: New Orleans at Phoenix, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
———————————————
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
110–104 Game 2 Monday win vs. Utah —
Wasn’t active for the game
Playoff statistics — Hasn’t played
Regular-season NBA season statistics —
19 games, 2.5 points, 35.9 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 10–10 FT, 1.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists
G League season statistics — 14 games, 15.7 points, 40.4 FG%, 38.6 3FG%, 84.8 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Series scores, schedule
Saturday: Utah 99, Dallas 93
Monday: Dallas 110, Utah 105; series tied at 1
Thursday at Utah, 9 p.m., NBATV
Saturday, April 23 at Utah, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Monday, April 25: Utah at Dallas, 9:30, TNT
x — Thursday, April 28: Dallas at Utah, TBD, TBD
x — Saturday, April 30: Utah at Dallas, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
———————————————
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Off Monday and Tuesday
Playoff statistics — Hasn’t played
Regular-season NBA statistics —
32 games, 6.2 points, 57.7 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 58.5% FT, 5.0 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
G League statistics (2021 part of season) — 4 games, 18.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 33.33P%, 85.7 FT%, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 2.6 blocks
G League statistics (2022 part of season) — 10 games, 18.8 points, 51.0 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 40.0 FT%, 13.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Series scores, schedule
Sunday: Boston 115, Brooklyn 114; Celtics lead series 1–0
Wednesday at Boston, 7 p.m., TNT
Saturday at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Monday, April 25 at Brooklyn, 7 p.m., TNT
x — Wednesday, April 27 at Boston, TBD, TBD
x — Friday, April 29: Boston at Brooklyn, TBD, TBD
x — Sunday, May 1: Brooklyn at Boston, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
———————————————
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Off Monday and Tuesday
Playoff statistics —
1 game, 12.0 points, 50.0 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 4 rebounds, 0 assists
Regular-season statistics — 61 games, 12.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 86.7 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Series scores, schedule
Sunday: Milwaukee 93, Chicago 86; Bucks lead series 1–0
Wednesday at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Friday at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., ABC
Sunday, April 24 at Chicago, 1 p.m., ABC
x — Wednesday, April 27 at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
x — Friday, April 29 at Chicago, TBD, TBD
x — Sunday, May 1 at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD
x — If needed
———————————————

Photo via @dallasmavs

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