By R.L. Bynum
Coby White’s return as the Chicago Bulls’ starting point guard hasn’t always been smooth this season, with his best assist numbers in four seasons but his worst shooting percentages since his rookie season.
In splitting the last two games against Miami at home, he found the rhythm, following up a 14-point, five-assist effort in Saturday’s 102–97 victory with a season-high 20 points Monday, with five rebounds and three assists, in a 118–101 defeat. He scored four 3-pointers in both games.
White, who led Chicago in scoring Monday, dished out a combined eight assists in the two games to boost his average to 4.1, matching his career-high in the 2020–21 season, his second in the league.
White was 7 of 11 from the floor, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range in Monday’s game. He is shooting 39.6% from the floor (his worst since shooting 39.4% in his rookie 2019–20 season) and 32.6% from outside the arc (35.4% in 2019–20).
He’s scored in double figures in the last three games (16 points at Milwaukee on Nov. 13) after combining for nine points and 4 of 16 shooting in the previous two games.
Chicago (5–10) hasn’t won back-to-back games all season and dealt with a controversy last weekend when guard Zach LaVine declined a postgame interview.
In a nearly eight-minute video posted Monday on the Bulls’ website, “All-Access: Behind-the-Scenes with Coby White,” Golden State guard Chris Paul talks about White’s development, his personality and “big heart,” and Chris Fleming, a Bulls assistant coach, talks about his resiliency and stubbornness.
Harrison Barnes has also dealt with shooting woes but was 4 of 9 from the floor and made 3 of 6 3-point attempts to score 16 points — 12 in the first half — Monday in the Sacramento Kings’ 129–83 loss at New Orleans. He scored 12 points in Sunday’s 129–113 win at Dallas, going 4 of 11 from the floor and 1 of 6 outside the arc.
Barnes is shooting 45.4% from the floor, the worst since shooting 42% in the 2018–19 season and is making only 35.9% of his 3-point attempts, his worst since shooting 35.7% in the 2017–18 season.
Sacramento (8–5) leads the Pacific Division and is fifth in the Western Conference.
Cole Anthony collected 15 points, five rebounds and three assists Sunday in Orlando’s 128–116 victory at Indiana. He’s scored in double figures in the last four games for the Magic (8–5), which is fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Cameron Johnson had nine points, five rebounds and two assists in Brooklyn’s 121–99 Sunday loss to Philadelphia. Day’Ron Sharpe contributed six points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 20 minutes.
After not playing (coach’s decision) in the previous four Houston games and six of the previous eight, Reggie Bullock played eight scoreless minutes with five rebounds, missing a pair of 3-point attempts, in the Rockets’ 121–116 Monday loss at Golden State.
Subscribe to read Tar Heel Tribune ad-free
Subscribe for a cleaner, smoother reading experience without the flashing banners, slow-loading elements, or those especially annoying pop‑up ads that interrupt the flow of the story. You’ll also get the first version of each story emailed to you. The only ads you’ll see are static, non-intrusive ads for UNC‑related books, and there are none currently on the site.
In 60 minutes this season, he has six points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
Nassir Little has played in three consecutive Phoenix games after not playing (coach’s decision) in the previous four. He scored a season-high 10 points in 20 minutes, with two 3-pointers, three rebounds, two assists and three blocks, in the Suns’ 140–137 win Sunday at Utah.
It was only the third time he’s played more than 14 minutes this season.
Jazz center Walker Kessler missed the game and is expected to miss another week recovering from a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow suffered in the season opener. After playing through it for eight games, the team decided he needed rest and treatment to fully recover.
In the G League on Saturday, Pete Nance had six points and three rebounds in Cleveland’s 104–100 win at Windy City but was scoreless with 11 rebounds in Sunday’s 94–75 loss at Windy City.
Theo Pinson had 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two steals Sunday in the Texas Legends’ 119–105 win at Birmingham. Justin Jackson had seven points, four rebounds and four assists, and Tony Bradley still hasn’t made his season debut for the team.
After nearly putting up a triple-double in his G League debut with the Greensboro Swarm on Friday, Leaky Black had four points, nine rebounds and three assists in the team’s 105–81 home win over Raptors 905 on Saturday.
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 33 | 6–7, 225 | 14th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting power forward ahead of Keldon Johnson
Season statistics — 73 games, 10.0 points, 45.3 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 82.8 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 59–19, 2nd in Western Conference
Thursday: 118–99 win at Los Angeles Clippers — Didn’t start; 20:43, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2 assists, 1 block, +11
Saturday: 136–134 OT loss at Denver — Didn’t start; 16:13, 8 points, 3–4 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +2
Next game — 10:30 Thursday at Los Angeles Clippers
Leaky Black, Washington Wizards guard
Age 26 | 6–6, 209 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Final regular-season G League statistics — 38 games, 10.3 points, 45.6 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals
Season NBA statistics — 11 games, 7.4 points, 42.3 FG%, 41.2 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 17–61, 14th in Eastern Conference
Friday in G League playoffs: 118–108 loss at Greensboro Swarm (only playoff game) — 31 minutes, 4 points, 2–7 FG, 0–3 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 fouls, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +6
Saturday: 152–136 loss at Miami — 5:21, 0–1 FG, 1 foul, -7
Sunday: 121–115 loss at Brooklyn — Started; 42:11, 8 points, 3–9 FG, 2–6 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -11
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Chicago
Tony Bradley, Atlanta Hawks center
Age 27 | 6–10, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
Season statistic — 38 games, 4.0 points, 55.7 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Team record: 45–33, 5th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs. New York, Peacock
Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets forward
Age 29 | 6–8, 210 | 7th season | $22.54 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season statistics — 52 games, 12.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 43.0 3P%, 84.1 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 50–28, 4th in Western Conference
Saturday: 136–134 OT win vs. San Antonio — Started; 39:11, 17 points, 6–11 FG, 4–8 3FG, 1–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, +7
Next game — 9 p.m. Monday vs. Portland
Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks center
Age 25 | 6–9, 225 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Final season G League statistics — 12 games, 19.0 points, 53.7 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
Season NBA statistics — 44 games, 5.5 points, 53.4 FG%, 44.1 3P%, 28.6 FG%, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Team record: 31–47, 11th in Eastern Conference
Friday: 133–101 loss vs. Boston— Started; 33:21, 14 points, 5–11 FG, 4–9 3FG, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, -19
Sunday: 131–115 win vs. Memphis— Didn’t start; 23:20, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, team-high +23
Next game — 7:30 Tuesday at Brooklyn
Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 20 | 6–5, 195 | Rookie season | 4-year NBA rookie contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard
Season NBA statistics — 60 games, 6.5 points, 41.8 FG%, 29.8 3FG%, 91.5 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Final regular-season G League statistics — 5 games, 11.8 points, 44.2 FG%, 36.4 3FG%, 72.7 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals
Team record: 19–59, 13th in Eastern Conference
Friday: 141–107 loss vs. Atlanta — Started; 28:20, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, team-low -25
Sunday: 121–115 win vs. Washington — Started; 29:26, 13 points, 5–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 fouls, team-high +13
Next game — 3:30 Sunday vs. Washington
Cormac Ryan, Milwaukee Bucks guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Final season G League statistics — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
Season NBA statistics — 9 games, 11.0 points, 54.5 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 94.1 FT% (16 of 17), 1.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 31–47, 11th in Eastern Conference
Friday: 133–101 loss vs. Boston— Started; 32:47, 11 points, 2–7 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–5 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -19
Sunday: 131–115 win vs. Memphis— Didn’t start; 29:26, 21 points, 7–8 FG, 3–4 FT, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +19
Next game — 7:30 Tuesday at Brooklyn
Coby White, Charlotte Hornets forward
Age 26 | 6–4, 195 | 7th season | $12.88 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball
Season statistics — 47 games, 17.5 points, 44.4 FG%, 35.29 3PFG, 82.3 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Team record: 42–36, 8th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 127–107 win vs. Phoenix — Didn’t start; 20:20, 19 points, 6–13 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–5 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, +5
Friday: 129–107 win vs. Indiana — Didn’t start; 14:11, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +5
Next game — 7 p.m. Sunday at Minnesota
Out for season
— Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe (UCL tear in left thumb); season statistics: 62 games, 8.7 points, 60.1 FG%, 23.1 3P%, 67.8 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
— Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (torn labrum in left shoulder); season statistics: 5 games, 14.4 points, 70.3 FG%, 75.0 3P%, 70.0 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.8 blocks
Waived
— Cole Anthony by the Phoenix Suns
— Tony Bradley by the Indiana Pacers
RJ Davis, South Bay Lakers guard
Age 23 | 6–0, 180 | rookie season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2020–25 (5 seasons)
Final regular-season statistics — 49 games, 18.4 points, 46.8 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 86.4 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Playoff statistics — 2 games, 7.5 points, 30.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 3–3 FT, 0.5 of a rebound, 4.5 assists
Friday in Western Conference semifinal of the G League playoffs: 112–97 win vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers — Started; 18 minutes, 8 points, 2–5 FG, 2–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 assists, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, +2
Next game — 9 p.m. Sunday in Western Conference final of G League playoffs vs. Stockton Kings, ESPNU
Harrison Ingram, Austin Spurs forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 230 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Final regular-season G League statistics — 40 games, 16.6 points, 49.2 FG%, 34.0 3P%, 62.9 FT%, 12.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals
G League season is over.
Caleb Love, Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers) guard
Age 24 | 6–3, 212 | Rookie season | Two-way contract | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
NBA season statistics — 47 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 10.8 points, 38.9 FG%, 32.0 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Final G League regular-season statistics — 10 games, 24.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers
Friday in Western Conference semifinals of G League playoffs: 107–95 loss to Stockton Kings — didn’t play
Next Blazers game — 9 p.m. Monday at Denver
Photo via @chicagobulls
