Tar Heels in NBA: Season-highs for Johnson, Anthony, who combine to score 61 points but their teams combine to lose by 46; White hits 14

By R.L. Bynum

Cameron Johnson and Cole Anthony had their best scoring games of the season on a night that they were one of the few bright spots in their teams’ blowout road losses.

Both led their teams with season-highs for points and field goals and their second-best game scores, along with frustration over the results of their games.

Johnson was efficient, with a season-high 33 points in 27 minutes in the Brooklyn Nets’ 142–118 loss to the New York Knicks. Anthony scored a season-high 28 points in 32 minutes off the bench, but Orlando lost a 139–117 setback against the Milwaukee Bucks, who have won 16 games in a row.

It was Johnson’s second career game with at least 30 points, with the other also coming against the Knicks when he scored a career-high of 38 points for Phoenix on March 4, 2022.

Johnson, who turns 27 on Friday, wasn’t worried about his numbers but rather his team, which has lost four in a row and six of its last seven. The Nets have fallen to 34–28, sixth in the Eastern Conference.

“Bottom line is we just have to be better,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to find a way to learn how to make teams do things they don’t want to do. That’s one of the key things to defense in this league. We’ve just got to continue to get better, chip away and learn and grow and use these as lessons.”

Johnson was 11 of 18 from the floor. He was 7 of 11 from 3-point range, tying his season-high for 3-pointers and giving him 455 career 3-pointers. He also scored seven 3s in a 29-point game for Phoenix against Minnesota on Nov. 1.

His 24.7 game score was second only this season to a 26.7 in that game against the Timberwolves when he scored 29 points with two rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block.

Day’Ron Sharpe had five points, four rebounds, two assists and a block in 21 minutes for Brooklyn.

Anthony’s 23.1 game score was second only this season to his 23.9 in his 23-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist game on Dec. 23 against San Antonio.

“Obviously upset about this loss, but we’re going to try to attempt to take our anger out Charlotte, and hopefully get a dub,” Anthony said of Orlando’s loss.

Anthony was 10 of 16 from the floor, 3 of 7 from 3-point range and had seven rebounds and four assists. His previous-best scoring game this season was 25 points on Oct. 21 at Atlanta. He was 10 short of his career-high of 38 points on Nov. 1, 2021, against Minnesota.

“I got some pretty easy looks early on,” Anthony said. “Credit to my team. They got some open looks. I thought I spaced the floor pretty well and that allowed me to get going.”

Anthony has scored at least 20 points in six games this season and is shooting 67.1% in those games.


Coby White scored 14 points and three 3-pointers with five assists and three steals as the Chicago Bulls won 117–115 at Detroit.

White scored nine points in the second quarter to turn a close game into a 69–54 Chicago advantage.

The Bulls are 29–34 and one game back of a play-in spot at 11th in the Eastern Conference.


In Portland’s 121–110 Wednesday home loss to New Orleans, Nassir Little was scoreless in 17 minutes, missing all four shots with three rebounds, an assist and a block. It was Little’s fifth scoreless game of the season.


Danny Green has been active for five games since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers. For their 117–113 loss Wednesday at Boston, he didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the second time in four games.


In the G League, Garrison Brooks had four points and eight rebounds in his Westchester Knicks’ 147–126 home loss to Delaware.

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

139–117 Wednesday loss at Milwaukee — 32 minutes, 28 points (season-high), 10–16 FG, 3–7 3FG, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, -11, 23.1 game score (second-best this season)
Season statistics — 44 games, 12.1 points, 44.3 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 88.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Friday at Charlotte; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Portland


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

Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 61 games, 15.0 points, 47.2 FG%, 37.8 3FG%, 83.8 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games 10 p.m. Friday vs. Los Angeles Clippers; 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Minnesota


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

Off Wednesday
Season statistics 61 games, 7.0 points, 40.1 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 68.6 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Next games 7:30 Thursday vs. Philadelphia, TNT; 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Phoenix, ABC


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

117–113 Wednesday loss at Boston — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics 6 games, 71 minutes, 19 points, 6–19 FG, 6–15 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Next games 7:30 Saturday vs. Detroit; 7 p.m. Monday vs. Boston


Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 26 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

142–118 Wednesday loss at New York — Started; 27 minutes, 33 points, 13–18 FG, 7–11 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -9, 24.7 game score
Season statistics — 24 games, 15.4 points, 48.5 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 81.1 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Next games 7:30 Friday at Boston, ESPN; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Charlotte


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

Off Wednesday
Season statistics 60 games, 8.2 points, 70.9 FG%, 53.3 FT%, 1–1 3FG, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.2 blocks
Next games 8 p.m. Friday at Oklahoma City; 7 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma City


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


121–110 Wednesday loss vs. New Orleans — 17 minutes, 0 points, 0–4 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3 fouls, -15, -2.6 game score
Season statistics — 41 games, 6.4 points, 46.6 FG%, 40.9 3P%, 65.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games 7:30 Friday at Atlanta; 6 p.m. Sunday at Orlando


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


Off Wednesday
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 7:30 Thursday vs. Philadelphia, TNT; 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Phoenix, ABC


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

142–118 Wednesday loss at New York — 21 minutes, 5 points, 2–6 FG, 1–2 3PFG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, -4, 0.7 game score
Season NBA statistics — 35 games, 3.9 points, 53.2 FG%, 5–8 3FG, 59.3 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.6 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 Friday at Boston, ESPN; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Charlotte


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

117–115 Wednesday win at Detroit — 22 minutes, 14 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1–1 FT, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -10, 12.6 game score
Season statistics 55 games, 8.9 points, 42.1 FG%, 35.8 3P%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Next games 8 p.m. Friday vs. Phoenix; 3:30 Sunday vs. Indiana


Bradley free agent

On Feb. 21, 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)

147–126 Wednesday loss vs. Delaware — Started; 4 points, 1–3 FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, -13
Season statistics 34 games, 13.1 points, 63.0 2PFGP%, 0–18 3P, 59.4 FT%, 11.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 of a block, 22 double-doubles
Next games 7 p.m. Friday vs. Delaware; 6 p.m. Sunday at Windy City


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

Off Wednesday
Season G League statistics — 2 games, 13.0 points, 54.5 2PFG%, 20.0 3FG%, 25.0 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 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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