Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson hits 27, makes late 3, but Nets fall on buzzer-beater; White scores 17, three 3s in Bulls win; Little has big game

By R.L. Bynum

Cameron Johnson had his best game as a Brooklyn Net and hit a huge late 3-pointer, but it wasn’t enough to get a win at Atlanta.

Johnson scored 27 points and tied the game on a 3-pointer with 7.8 seconds left, but Trae Young hit a buzzer-beating jumper to lift the Hawks to a 129–127 victory Sunday.

In his fifth game with the Nets, Johnson was 10 of 15 from the floor, including 3 of 8 from 3-point range, had three rebounds, two steals and a block.

The point total was two short of his season-high of 29 for Phoenix against Minnesota on Nov. 1, the day before he suffered a knee injury. The 10 field goals Sunday equaled his total for that Timberwolves game. His 24.4 game score against Atlanta was second only this season to the 26.7 against Minnesota.

Day’Ron Sharpe didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the second time in three games after playing in the previous nine games.


Coby White scored 17 points and three 3-pointers — in addition to four rebounds and three assists — in Chicago’s 102–82 home win Sunday over Washington, the Bulls’ second straight win coming out of the All-Star break.

It was White’s fifth game scoring more than 15 points this season, with his season-high 25 at Indiana on Feb. 15. His 15.7 game score was the third-highest for White this season.


Nassir Little had his second-best game of the season with a 14.1 game score in Portland’s 131–114 Sunday home win over Houston. He collected 11 points, making all three shots — each from 3-point range — both free-throw attempts and pulled down nine rebounds with two assists and a block.

Damian Lillard scored a career- and franchise-record 71 points in the game for Portland.


Harrison Barnes contributed nine points, eight rebounds and four assists as Sacramento won 124–115 at Oklahoma City. The Kings are 3–0 coming out of the All-Star break and are 34–25, third in the Western Conference.


Reggie Bullock had six points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal in Dallas’ 111–108 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. After playing in the previous eight games, Theo Pinson didn’t play (coach’s decision).


In Orlando’s 121–108 Saturday home loss to Indiana, Cole Anthony had eight points, four rebounds, five assists and two blocks.


Walker Kessler collected 10 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in Utah’s 118–102 Saturday home win over San Antonio.


In the G League, Garrison Brooks had 20 points and 15 rebounds for his 22nd double-double of the season Sunday, but his Westchester Knicks lost at Windy City 123–108.

On Saturday, Justin Jackson had 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in his Texas Legends’ 122–98 home loss to Rio Grande.

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

121–108 Saturday loss vs. Indiana — 17 minutes, 8 points, 2–7 FG, 0–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -6, 6.8 game score
Season statistics — 41 games, 12.0 points, 44.0 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Monday at New Orleans; 8 p.m. Wednesday at Milwaukee


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

124–115 Sunday win at Oklahoma City — Started; 33 minutes, 9 points, 4–10 FG, 1–5 3FG, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, +24, 9.5 game score
Season statistics — 60 games, 14.7 points, 46.9 FG%, 37.0 3FG%, 83.6 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games 8 p.m. Tuesday at Oklahoma City; 10 p.m. Friday vs. Los Angeles Clippers


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

111–108 Sunday loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers — Started; 30 minutes, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–6 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -5, 2.6 game score
Season statistics 60 games, 6.9 points, 39.7 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 68.6 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Next games 8:30 Tuesday vs. Indiana; 7:30 Thursday vs. Philadelphia, TNT


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

118–93 Sunday win vs. Toronto — 6 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -4, 1.3 game score
Season statistics 6 games, 71 minutes, 19 points, 6–19 FG, 6–15 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at Boston, ESPN; 7:30 Saturday vs. Detroit


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

129–127 Sunday loss at Atlanta — Started, 36 minutes, 27 points (second-highest this season), 10–15 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 fouls, -9, 24.4 game score (second-highest this season)
Season statistics — 22 games, 14.4 points, 46.6 FG%, 41.0 3P%, 80.9 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Next games 7:30 Tuesday vs. Milwaukee; 7:30 Wednesday at New York


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

118–102 Saturday win vs. San Antonio — 27 minutes, 10 points, 4–6 FG, 1–2 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks, 1 foul, -10, 15.9 game score
Season statistics 59 games, 8.2 points, 71.2 FG%, 53.4 FT%, 1–1 3FG, 7.9 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.2 blocks
Next games 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. San Antonio; 8 p.m. Friday at Oklahoma City


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


131–114 Sunday win vs. Houston — 20 minutes, 11 points, 3–3 FG, 3–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, -7, 14.1 game score (second-highest this season)
Season statistics — 39 games, 6.6 points, 48.0 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 65.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games 10 p.m. Tuesday at Golden State; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. New Orleans, ESPN


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


111–108 Sunday loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 33 games, 1.9 points, 33.9 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 81.8 FT, 1.2 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games 8:30 Tuesday vs. Indiana; 7:30 Thursday vs. Philadelphia, TNT


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

129–127 Sunday loss at Atlanta — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 33 games, 3.9 points, 54.5 FG%, 4–6 3FG, 59.3 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 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 7:30 Tuesday vs. Milwaukee; 7:30 Wednesday at New York


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

102–82 Sunday win vs. Washington — 26 minutes, 17 points, 6–8 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +8, 15.7 game score (third-highest this season)
Season statistics 53 games, 8.9 points, 42.3 FG%, 35.5 3P%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Next games 7:30 Tuesday at Toronto; 7 p.m. Wednesday at Detroit


Bradley free agent

On Tuesday, Chicago waived Tony Bradley. His season statistics: 12 games, 33 minutes, 19 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 4–4 FT, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block


In the G League

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

123–108 Sunday loss at Windy City — Started; 20 points, 8–12 FG, 2–2 FT, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 2 blocks, -16
Season statistics 33 games, 13.4 points, 63.3 2PFGP%, 0–18 3P, 59.7 FT%, 11.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 of a block, 22 double-doubles
Next games 11 a.m. Wednesday vs. Delaware; 7 p.m. Friday vs. Delaware


Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220 | Sixth pro season | UNC 2014–27 (3 seasons)

122–98 Saturday loss vs. Rio Grande — Started; 34 minutes, 13 points, 5–14 FG, 1–8 3FG, 1–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 block, -10
Season G League statistics — 2 games, 13.0 points, 54.5 2PFG%, 20.0 3FG%, 25.0 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assits, 2.5 steals
Season NBA statistics (with Boston) — 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Next games 10 p.m. Thursday at Stockton; 8 p.m. Saturday at Stockton


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 @BrooklynNets

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