Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson hits 18 in Nets win, settles in with team; White has best game of season day before he turns 23

By R.L. Bynum

With a lot of help from a teammate who was traded along with him from Phoenix, Cam Johnson finally got a victory in his third game since joining the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, Coby White scored a season-high 25 points in his best game of the season one day before his birthday.

Johnson scored 18 points and three 3-pointers while dishing out three assists as Brooklyn headed into the NBA All-Star break with a 116–110 home victory over the Miami Heat.

“Just continuing to chip away each and every day, get better, trying to be more cohesive as a group,” Johnson said. “I think we made strides in that today.”

Mikal Bridges, who came over from Phoenix in the trade-deadline deal last week, scored a career-high 45 points, including 15 in a row, as Brooklyn pulled away midway through the third quarter.

Johnson scored 14 points and two 3-pointers with four rebounds in Monday’s 124–106 loss at New York.

“I missed a little bit of time this year, so I’m really just starting to get back into a rhythm, get back into full game shape,” Johnson said, who has played 12 games since his return after tearing the meniscus in his right knee on Nov. 4. “I’ll enjoy this break. I’ll continue to work continue to get better and look forward to this last 20, 25 games.”

With Brooklyn, the ball is in Johnson’s hands more, and he has more opportunities to show his ability.

“I feel like I got a lot more to show,” Johnson said. “Coming off this All-Star break, I’ll go in, get back in the lab and tidy some things up. I feel like I’m really in a position now where there’s equal opportunity across the board. And I’ve seen so many opportunities that past three games.”

As a Net, Johnson is 7 of 24 from 3-point range and is averaging 14.7 points.

He’ll head back to Phoenix during the break to reunite with his dog and get ready for the second half.

“I miss my dog,” Johnson said. “I don’t have her with me, and she’s my life story. She recharges me, and so I’ll get to see her, I get to see my family and then get to packing, get things tidied up and get the things out here that I need.”

Day’Ron Sharpe had nine points and eight rebounds against the Knicks but didn’t play against Miami (coach’s decision.)

Brooklyn is 34–24, fifth in the Eastern Conference.


A day before turning 23 years old, White put up season-highs of nine field goals, five 3-pointers (on eight attempts) and a 23.1 game score. It wasn’t enough for Chicago, which lost 117–113 at Indiana for the Bulls’ fifth consecutive defeat.

White had 12 points and two 3-pointers in Monday’s 100–91 home loss to Orlando. Tony Bradley didn’t play in either game (coach’s decision).

Chicago, which has sunk to 11th in the Eastern Conference at 26–32, plays at home Thursday at Milwaukee.


Danny Green made his Cleveland debut Wednesday night in Philadelphia against his old team. Green had four points in 12 minutes off the bench as the Cavaliers lost 118–112.


Harrison Barnes scored 11 points with two rebounds as the Sacramento Kings went into the break at 32–25, third in the Western Conference after a 120–109 loss at Phoenix on Tuesday.


Nassir Little had a good game Monday in Portland’s 127–115 Monday home win over the Los Angeles Lakers with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. In Tuesday’s last game before the break, though, a 126–101 home loss to Washington, he had one point, five rebounds and four assists in 17 minutes.


Reggie Bullock combined for nine points in a pair of Dallas losses this week, six in Monday’s 124–121 home defeat against Minnesota and three in Wednesday’s 117–109 loss at Denver. Theo Pinson played a combined 39 minutes in the two games, scoring six against the Timberwolves and going scoreless against the Nuggets.


Walker Kessler produced his 12th double-double of the season with 10 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in Utah’s 117–111 loss Wednesday at Memphis. He had six points, five rebounds and two blocks Monday when the Jazz won at Indiana 123–117.


Cole Anthony missed Orlando’s last two games before the All-Star break with right wrist pain.


In the G League, Garrison Brooks had two double-doubles this week for the Westchester Knicks after only collecting six points and nine rebounds in Sunday’s 124–123 home loss to Raptors 905. In Monday’s 113–104 win over Raptors 905, he had 10 points and 12 rebounds, then had 14 points and 11 rebounds in Wednesday’s 111–109 win at Capital City.

Cole Anthony,
Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

100–91 Monday win at Chicago and 123–113 Tuesday loss at Toronto Didn’t play (right wrist pain)
Season statistics — 39 games, 12.0 points, 44.3 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 88.4 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, vs. Detroit; 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, vs. Indiana


Harrison Barnes,
Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

120–109 Tuesday loss at Phoenix — Started; 36 minutes, 11 points, 4–8 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, +2, 7.2 game score
Season statistics — 57 games, 14.9 points, 47.1 FG%, 37.4 3FG%, 83.2 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, vs. Portland; 10:30 Friday, Feb. 24. at Los Angeles Clippers


Tony Bradley,
Chicago Bulls center
Age 25 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)

100–91 Monday loss vs. Orlando and 117–113 Wednesday loss at Indiana 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 7:30 Thursday vs. Milwaukee, TNT; 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, vs. Brooklyn, ESPN


Reggie Bullock,
Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

124–121 Monday loss vs. Minnesota — Started; 38 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, -7, 4.5 game score
118–109 Wednesday loss at Denver — Started; 30 minutes, 3 points, 1–5 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, -14, -1.1 game score
Season statistics 58 games, 6.8 points, 39.5 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 68.6 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Next games 8:30 Thursday, Feb. 23, vs. San Antonio; 3:30 Sunday, Feb. 26, vs. Los Angeles Lakers, ABC


Danny Green,
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Age 35 | 6–6, 205 | 13th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)

117–109 Monday win vs. San Antonio — Signing wasn’t yet finalized
118–112 Wednesday loss at Philadelphia — 12 minutes, 4 points, 1–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal, -6, 1.9 game score
Season statistics 4 games, 55 minutes, 13 points, 4–16 FG, 4–11 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Next games 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, vs. Denver; 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, at Atlanta


Cameron Johnson,
Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210| fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

124–106 Monday loss at New York — Started; 27 minutes, 14 points, 5–10 FG, 2–6 3FG, 2–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 foul, -1, 11.5 game score, 11.7 game score
116–105 Wednesday win vs. Miami — Started, 34 minutes, 18 points, 6–14 FG, 3–10 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound,3 assists, 1 block, 4 fouls, +9
Season statistics — 20 games, 14.0 points, 46.2 FG%, 42.3 3P%, 79.1 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Chicago, ESPN; 3:30 Sunday, Feb. 26, at Atlanta


Walker Kessler,
Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

123–117 Monday win at Indiana — Started; 19 minutes, 6 points, 3–3 FG, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, -2, 6.4 game score
117–111 Wednesday loss at Memphis — Started; 33 minutes, 10 points 4–8 FG, 2–3 FT, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, -1, 10.5 game score
Season statistics 57 games, 8.2 points, 71.2 FG%, 54.4 FT%, 7.7 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.1 blocks
Next games 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, vs. Oklahoma City; 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, vs. San Antonio


Nassir Little,
Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)


127–115 Monday win vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 28 minutes, 11 points, 4–7 FG, 3–5 3FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 2 fouls, +19, 9.7 game score
126–101 Tuesday loss vs. Washington — 17 minutes, 1 point, 0–5 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 foul, +13, 1.8 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 5.9 points, 46.6 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 62.5 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at Sacramento; 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, vs. Houston


Theo Pinson,
Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)


124–121 Monday loss vs. Minnesota — 19 minutes, 6 points, 2–6 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 5 fouls, +12, 1.6 game score
118–109 Wednesday loss at Denver 20 minutes, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 3 fouls, +4, -1.2 game score
Season statistics — 32 games, 2.0 points, 33.9 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 81.8 FT, 1.2 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games 8:30 Thursday, Feb. 23, vs. San Antonio; 3:30 Sunday, Feb. 26, vs. Los Angeles Lakers, ABC


Day’Ron Sharpe,
Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

124–106 Monday loss at New York 15 minutes, 9 points, 4–4 FG, 1–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, -10, 9.0 game score
116–105 Wednesday win vs. Miami — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 32 games, 4.0 points, 54.0 FG%, 4–6 3FG, 59.3 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 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Chicago, ESPN; 3:30 Sunday, Feb. 26, at Atlanta


Coby White,
Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

100–91 Monday loss vs. Orlando — 23 minutes, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 fouls, -3, 10.6 game score
117–113 Wednesday loss at Indiana — 33 minutes, 25 points, 9–12 FG, 5–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 fouls, +11
Season statistics 50 games, 8.8 points, 42.2 FG%, 35.1 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Next games 7:30 Thursday vs. Milwaukee, TNT; 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, vs. Brooklyn, ESPN


Jackson in limbo

On Feb. 9, Boston traded Justin Jackson to Oklahoma City, who waived him Feb. 10. His season statistics: 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals


In the G League

Garrison Brooks,
Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)

124–123 Sunday loss vs. Raptors 905 — Started; 22 minutes, 6 points, 3–4 FG, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, -9
113–104 Monday win vs. Raptors 905 — Started; 10 points, 4–7 FG, 1–1 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, +2
111–109 Wednesday win at Capital City — Started; 14 points, 4–10 FG, 4–6 FT, 11 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 2 blocks, +7
Season statistics 31 games, 12.8 points, 63.3 2PFGP%, 0–18 3P, 55.7 FT%, 11.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 of a block, 21 double-doubles
Next games 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, vs. Fort Wayne; 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at Windy City


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.

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