Tar Heels in pros: Leaky Black nearly puts up triple-double in spectacular G League debut; Anthony has big game as Magic beats Bulls

By R.L. Bynum

Leaky Black had trouble getting playing time with the Charlotte Hornets, but when given a chance in the G League for the Greensboro Swarm on Friday night, he took advantage of the opportunity.

Black flirted with a triple-double off the bench with 12 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and two steals and was +24 in the Swarm’s 108–82 home victory over Raptors 905.

After scoring five points over three games in 14 minutes for the Hornets, he doubled that playing time with 28 minutes in his G League debut after he got transferred to the Swarm earlier on Friday.

Black made four of six shots. Former UCLA guard Amari Bailey, a second-round Charlotte pick in the 2023 NBA draft, also made his G League debut for Greensboro, and had 26 points, six rebounds and three assists. Both are on two-way contracts.

Both were sent to Greensboro after the Hornets got Miles Bridges, Gordon Hayward and Brandon Miller back in the lineup on Friday for Friday’s 130–99 home loss to Milwaukee.

Greensboro faces Raptors 905 at home again at 7 p.m. Saturday.

In Saturday’s 105–81 Swarm win over Raptor 905, Black had four points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in 19 minutes of the bench.


In the NBA, Cole Anthony and Orlando avenged a Thursday loss to Coby White and Chicago on Friday.

Anthony had a good all-around game with 11 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and a steal in the Magic’s 103–97 win at Chicago. White had four points, four assists and a steal in 30 minutes.

Just as in the Thursday game, Orlando blew a big lead, a 19-point advantage, but held on for the win this time.

White’s dunk with 26 seconds left gave Chicago a 97–96 lead, but Orlando finished the game with a 6–1 run.


After playing only 3½ minutes in one game over the previous five Phoenix games, Nassir Little had five points in 11 minutes during the Suns’ 131–128 win at Utah.


Reggie Bullock wasn’t as fortunate, as he didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the third consecutive Houston game and fifth in the last seven, a 106–100 Rockets road victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 23 | 6–3, 185 | fourth NBA season | $5,539,771 salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

113–88 Sunday win vs. Milwaukee 17 minutes, 13 points, 5–9 FG, 1–3 3PFG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover 3 fouls, +13
Season statistics — 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Record Finished 47–35, 5th in Eastern Conference; Next game Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 5 East seed at No. 4 Cleveland


Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 31 | 6–8, 225 | 12th NBA season | $17,000,000 salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

121–82 Sunday win vs. Portland Started; 31 minutes, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, +37
Season statistics — 82 games, 12.2 points, 47.4 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Record Finished 46–36, tied for 9th in Western Conference; Next game 10 p.m. Tuesday as No. 9 seed in play-in tournament vs. No. 10 Golden State, TNT (loser eliminated)


Leaky Black, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 24 | 6–9, 209 | rookie NBA season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)

120–110 Sunday win at Cleveland 32 minutes, 11 points, 4–4 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, +22
NBA season statistics — 26 games, 2.7 points, 48.1 FG%, 45.0 3FG%, 66.7 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
G League season statistics — 25 games, 7.1 points, 43.7 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 61.9 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 of a block
Record Finished 21–61, 13th in Eastern Conference;


Reggie Bullock, Houston Rockets guard
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 11th NBA season | $10,489,600 salary | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

116–106 Sunday loss at Los Angeles Clippers 6 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, -1
Season statistics — 44 games, 2.2 points, 41.5 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 1–1 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Record Finished 41–41, 11th in Western Conference


Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fifth NBA season | $25,679,348 salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia Didn’t play (left big toe sprain); missed last two games
Season statistics — 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Record Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference


Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 22 | 7–0, 245 | second NBA season | $2,831,160 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

123–116 Sunday loss at Golden State Didn’t play (nasal fracture); missed last six games
Season statistics — 64 games, 8.1 points, 65.5 FG%, 21.1 3P%, 60.2 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.4 blocks
Record Finished 31–51, 12th in Western Conference


Nassir Little, Phoenix Sun wing
Age 23 | 6–4, 220 | fifth NBA season | $6,250,060 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

125–106 Sunday win at Minnesota  5 minutes, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, -5
Season statistics 45 games, 3.4 points, 46.0 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Record Finished 49–33, 6th in Western Conference; Next game Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 6 seed at No. 3 Minnesota


Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | third NBA season | $2,210,040 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia Didn’t play (wrist injury); missed three of last six games
Season statistics — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Record Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference


Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–5, 195 | fifth NBA season | $11,111,111 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

120–119 Sunday overtime loss at New York Started; 43 minutes, 26 points, 12–18 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +1
Season statistics — 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Record Finished 39–43, 9th in Eastern Conference; Next game 9:30 Wednesday as No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 Atlanta in play-in tournament, ESPN (loser eliminated)


In G League

Season statistics — 17 games, 14.1 points, 67.1 FG%, 71.9 FT%, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 block
Record Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Season G League statistics — 44 games, 19.9 points, 46.4 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.7 of a steal, 0.5 of a block
Season NBA statistics (with Minnesota) — 2 games, 1 minute, 0 points
Record Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge
Age 23 | 6–10, 225 | rookie pro season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

G League season statistics — 42 games; 13.2 points, 46.8 FG%, 35.8 3FG%, 74.5 FT%, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 of a steal, 1.5 blocks
Season NBA season statistics (with Cleveland) — 8 games, 27 minutes, 3 points, 1–6 FG, 1–1 3FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 2 fouls
Record Finished 15–7, 11th in Eastern Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Season statistics — 46 games, 14.8 points, 42.6 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 82.2 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 of a block
Record Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup


Leave a comment