By R.L. Bynum
When the trade deadline dust settled, three UNC alums changed teams. But Cole Anthony isn’t going anywhere and he showed why with his play in Orlando’s big home victory.
Anthony collected 17 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three blocks as the Magic knocked off Western Conference-leading Denver for a 115–104 home victory Thursday night.
Anthony led a productive group off the bench that outscored the Nuggets’ reserves 56–10.
“This second group is starting to really figure it out,” Anthony said. “As a unit, we’re just really locking in on that defensive end and trying to let our defense spark our offense.”
Orlando has won three of its last four games and is 13th in the Eastern Conference at 23–33.
“I think Cole was fantastic tonight,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He did such a great job for us being able to push the pace … a big part is him just being himself, being aggressive early, attacking, and being able to break the defense down.”
Caught in the flurry of trades were Cameron Johnson (who went from Phoenix to Brooklyn), Justin Jackson (from Boston to Oklahoma City) and Danny Green (Memphis to Houston).
Phoenix sent Johnson, Mikal Bridges and first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, in addition to a first-round pick swap in 2028 to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren. As part of the deal, former Suns player Jae Crowder ended up with Milwaukee.
Johnson, whom Phoenix picked 11th overall in the 2019 NBA draft, figures to start at small forward for Brooklyn ahead of former Virginia player Joe Harris and Dorian Finney-Smith, whom Brooklyn acquired Monday from Dallas. With the trade, he’d continue to play alongside longtime teammate Bridges, but now in the Nets’ frontcourt.
Jackson went to the Thunder along with two second-round picks, with Boston getting center Mike Muscala, but Oklahoma City waived Jackson on Friday.
Memphis dealt Green to Houston as part of a three-team trade with Eric Gordon going from the Rockets to the Los Angeles Clippers and former Duke guard Luke Kennard moving from the Clippers to the Grizzlies.
Johnson didn’t join the Nets in time to be there for their 116–105 home win over Chicago.
Day’Ron Sharpe started for the second time this season and had eight points, 12 rebounds and a block for Brooklyn.
Coby White contributed 11 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Bulls. Tony Bradley didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the second consecutive game.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
115–104 Thursday win vs. Denver — 24 minutes, 17 points, 8–14 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +19, 16.7 game score
Season statistics — 38 games, 12.2 points, 44.6 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 88.4 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Miami; 8 p.m. Monday at Chicago
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 54 games, 15.1 points, 47.8 FG%, 38.3 3FG%, 82.6 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Dallas; 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Dallas
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 25 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
116–105 Thursday loss at Brooklyn — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 11 games, 30 minutes, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–5 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Next games — 8 p.m. Saturday at Cleveland; 8 p.m. Monday vs. Orlando
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 54 games, 6.8 points, 39.6 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 64.5 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday at Sacramento; 10 p.m. Saturday at Sacramento
Danny Green, Houston Rockets guard
Age 35 | 6–6, 205 | 13th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 3 games, 43 minutes, 9 points, 3–11 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Next games — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota; 2 p.m. Sunday at Boston, ABC
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210| fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
116–105 Thursday win vs. Chicago — Was not yet with the team
Season statistics — 17 games, 13.9 points, 47.4 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Next games — 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia, NBATV; 7:30 Monday at New York
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 54 games, 8.0 points, 71.0 FG%, 54.8 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.1 blocks
Next games — 7:30 Friday at Toronto; 7:30 Saturday at New York
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 34 games, 5.9 points, 45.7 FG%, 40.2 3P%, 60.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Oklahoma City; 10 p.m. Monday vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 28 games, 167 minutes, 53 points, 16–40 FG, 12–28 3FG, 9–11 FT, 34 rebounds, 19 assists, 2 steals
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday at Sacramento; 10 p.m. Saturday at Sacramento
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
116–105 Thursday win vs. Chicago — Started; 28 minutes, 8 points, 4–9 FG, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +23, 7.3 game score
Season NBA statistics — 30 games, 3.8 points, 51.6 FG%, 4–5 3FG, 65.2 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a block
Season G League statistics — 14 games, 16.3 points, 64.4 2PFG%, 21.1 3FG%, 57.1 FT%, 12.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, 12 double-doubles
Next games — 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia, NBATV; 7:30 Monday at New York
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
116–105 Thursday loss at Brooklyn — 26 minutes, 11 points, 4–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +4, 7.2 game score
Season statistics — 47 games, 8.5 points, 41.4 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Saturday at Cleveland; 8 p.m. Monday vs. Orlando
In the G League
Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 27 games, 13.2 points, 63.8 2PFGP%, 0–18 3P, 53.7 FT%, 11.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 of a block, 19 double-doubles
Next games — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Sioux Falls; 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Raptors 905
Get an explanation of the game score metric here. Michael Jordan produced the all-time-high game score of 64.6 on March 28, 1990, in the Chicago Bulls’ 117–113 overtime win at Cleveland. Jordan had 69 points on 23 of 37 shooting (2 of 6 from 3-point range), made 21 of 23 free-throw attempts and collected 18 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block.
Photo via @OrlandoMagic
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