Tar Heels in NBA: Anthony scores 23 in Magic loss; Bullock gets hurt; another Brooks double-double in the G League

By R.L. Bynum

Cole Anthony had one of his more productive games this season, but Orlando couldn’t overcome short-handed Milwaukee, playing without two All-Stars.

Anthony scored a team-high 23 points, his third-highest scoring game this season, but Orlando lost at home 134–123 to Milwaukee, who played without Giannis Antetokounmpo (non-COVID-19 illness) and Jrue Holiday (sore neck).

Anthony was 9 of 17 from the floor for his second-highest field-goal total this season and a 19.5 game score, his fifth-highest this season.

What was lacking for Orlando, he said, was defense.

“I didn’t see much. I think they scored at least 32 points every single quarter,” said Anthony after the Bucks put up quarter point totals of  36, 34, 33 and 32. “We just had no answer. We couldn’t stop them.”

Orlando (27–39) has lost two in a row and three of the last four and is 13th in the Eastern Conference, 4½ games out of a play-in spot.


Reggie Bullock started in Dallas’ 120–116 home win Tuesday over Utah but left after eight minutes with a right quad contusion and didn’t return. He missed his only shot and had two rebounds and one assist.

Theo Pinson got into the game for four seconds, the first time he had played after not getting off the bench (coach’s decision) in the previous four games.

Walker Kessler missed the game for the Jazz with a non-COVID-19 illness.


In the Brooklyn Nets’ 118–96 Tuesday win at Houston, Cameron Johnson had eight points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals. It was his third consecutive tough shooting game, going 2 of 9 from the floor and 2 of 6 from 3-point range. In the last three games, Johnson is 10 of 38 from the floor and 5 of 22 from 3-point range.

For the third game in a row, Day’Ron Sharpe didn’t play (coach’s decision.)


In the G League, Garrison Brooks put up his 24th double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds and also had three assists in his Westchester Knicks’ 121–104 loss at Stockton.

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

134–123 Tuesday loss vs. Milwaukee — 33 minutes, 23 points (third-highest this season), 9–17 FG (second-highest FG total this season), 1–3 3FG, 4–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, -2, 19.5 game score (fifth-highest this season)
Season statistics — 46 games, 12.3 points, 44.5 FG%, 33.6 3P%, 88.0 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Utah; 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Miami


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

Off Tuesday
Season statistics — 64 games, 15.1 points, 47.4 FG%, 37.5 3FG%, 84.3 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games 10 p.m. Thursday vs. New York, TNT; 9 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix


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

120–116 Tuesday win vs. Utah — Started; 8 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, -1, 0.6 game score
Season statistics 64 games, 7.1 points, 40.1 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 68.6 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at New Orleans, ESPN; 8 p.m. Saturday at Memphis


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

Off Tuesday
Season statistics 7 games, 80 minutes, 25 points, 8–21 FG, 8–17 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at Miami; 8 p.m. Friday at Miami, NBATV


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

118–96 Tuesday win at Houston — Started; 24 minutes, 8 points, 2–9 FG, 2–6 3FG, 2–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +18, 6.0 game score
Season statistics — 27 games, 15.1 points, 45.8 FG%, 40.1 3P%, 80.3 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games 8 p.m. Thursday at Milwaukee; 8 p.m. Friday at Minnesota


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

120–116 Tuesday loss at Dallas — Didn’t play (non-COVID-19 illness)
Season statistics 62 games, 8.4 points, 71.4 FG%, 53.2 FT%, 1–2 3FG, 8.1 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.3 blocks
Next games 7 p.m. Thursday at Orlando; 7 p.m. Saturday at Charlotte, Bally Sports SE


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


Off Tuesday
Season statistics — 44 games, 6.5 points, 47.7 FG%, 41.5 3P%, 65.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at Boston; 7 p.m. Friday at Philadelphia,


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


120–116 Tuesday win vs. Utah — 4 seconds, 0 points, +2, 0.0 game score
Season statistics — 34 games, 1.9 points, 33.9 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 81.8 FT, 1.1 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at New Orleans, ESPN; 8 p.m. Saturday at Memphis


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

118–96 Tuesday win at Houston — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
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 8 p.m. Thursday at Milwaukee; 8 p.m. Friday at Minnesota


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

Off Tuesday
Season statistics 57 games, 8.8 points, 42.1 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Next games 9 p.m. Wednesday at Denver; 8 p.m. Saturday at Houston


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)

121–104 Tuesday loss at Stockton — Started; 32 minutes, 13 points, 5–13 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -29
Season statistics 37 games, 13.6 points, 62.3 2P FGP%, 0–20 3P, 59.5 FT%, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 of a block, 24 double-doubles
Next games 10 p.m. Thursday at Stockton; 10 p.m. Saturday at Santa Cruz


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

Off Tuesday
Season G League statistics — 5 games, 20.4 points, 50.0 2P FG%, 38.0 3FG%, 63.66 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 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 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Windy City; 8 p.m. Thursday vs. 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.

Photo via @OrlandoMagic

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