By R.L. Bynum
Coby White continues to play well and earn the love of Chicago Bulls fans.
He scored season-highs of 31 points and eight 3-pointers to lead Chicago to back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Two nights after scoring 23 points in an upset victory over Milwaukee, White made 10 of 17 shots, including 8 of 13 from outside the arc, and had nine rebounds and six assists as the host Bulls knocked off the New Orleans Pelicans 124–118.
How good was it for White? There were chants of “Coby, Coby, Coby” from the United Center crowd in the game’s last five minutes.
After only scoring three first-half points, White scored 28 in the second half — his career-high for a half — on 7 of 9 3-point shooting.
White’s 27.2 game score was the third-highest of his career, behind only a 31.3 game score at Sacramento (36 points, four 3-pointers, seven assists and three rebounds) on Jan. 6, 2021, and a 27.9 game score his rookie year against Oklahoma City (35 points, six 3-pointers, seven rebounds, three assists) on Feb. 25, 2020.
White has scored four or more 3-pointers in seven of the last eight games, shooting at least 40% from outside the arc in each game of that stretch after struggling with his shot early in the season.
“The coaching staff and my teammates, they trust me. They find me,” White said. “If I don’t shoot it, I get cussed out, so I might as well shoot it.”
The eight 3-pointers tied his career high, which he also made against the Pelicans on Feb. 20, 2021. White, who fell five points short of his career-scoring high of 36 against Sacramento on Jan. 6, 2021, has scored at least 14 points in the last eight games.
White helped secure the victory on a pass just out of the reach of the Pelicans’ Jonas Valanciunas to Patrick Williams with 20 seconds left for an alley-oop dunk to give the Bulls a six-point lead.
“As long as I threw it up high enough that Valanciunas couldn’t get it, I knew that Pat is so athletic and bouncy and springy that he could go get it,” White said. “That’s becoming his thing: ending the game with monster dunks.”
The Bulls (7–14) are 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Cole Anthony rebounded from scoring only four points in Friday’s 130–125 Orlando home win over Washington with 20 points and five rebounds on Saturday night. The latter came in a 129–101 defeat at Brooklyn, ending the Magic’s nine-game win streak.
Orlando (14–6) is second in the Eastern Conference, leading the Southeast Division by three games.
Cameron Johnson had 14 points, three 3-pointers, seven rebounds and three assists for the Nets (10–9), with Day’Ron Sharpe contributing five points, six rebounds, two assists and a block.
Walker Kessler collected 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in Utah’s 118–113 overtime win Saturday over Portland.
Harrison Barnes scored 11 points and pulled down three rebounds in Sacramento’s 123–117 Saturday victory over reigning NBA champion Denver.
The Kings (11–7) play New Orleans at 10 p.m. Monday (TNT) in the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament.
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.
Nassir Little combined for six points and four rebounds in two Phoenix home games, a 119–11 Friday loss to Denver and a 116–111 Saturday win over Memphis.
Leaky Black didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Charlotte’s 129–128 win at Brooklyn or in the Hornets’ 123–117 home Saturday loss to Minnesota.
Reggie Bullock didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Houston’s 107–97 Saturday road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the G League, Justin Jackson scored 23 points and three 3-pointers with four rebounds and three assists in the Texas Legends’ 110–109 Saturday home loss to Memphis. Theo Pinson had 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Legends. While recovering from a calf injury, Tony Bradley still hasn’t made his season debut.
On Friday, Pete Nance had 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals in the Cleveland Charge’s 113–109 loss to Sioux Falls.
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 — 61 games, 10.3 points, 44.5 FG%, 37.7 3P%, 84.6 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 47–18, 2nd in Western Conference
Friday: 116–112 win vs. Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday: 145–120 win vs. Houston and Tuesday: 125–116 win vs. Boston — Didn’t play (sore left ankle)
Thursday: 136–131 loss vs. Denver — Didn’t start; 26:60, 20 points, 6–10 FG, 2–5 3FG, 6–7 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +1
Next game — 3:30 Saturday vs. Charlotte, Prime Video
Leaky Black, Washington Wizards guard
Age 26 | 6–6, 209 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
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 — 5 games, 10.0 points, 46.2 FG%, 40.0 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assist
Team record: 16–49, 14th in Eastern Conference
Sunday: 138–118 loss at New Orleans — Started; 31:24, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 2–6 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 fouls, -17
Tuesday: 150–129 loss at Miami — Not active for game
Thursday: 136–131 OT loss at Orlando — Didn’t start; 27:43, 12 points, 4–5 FG, 2–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, team-high +14
Next game — 6 p.m. Saturday at Boston, NBA TV
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 — 41 games, 11.3 points, 45.7 FG%, 41.0 3P%, 83.4 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 41–26, 5th in Western Conference
Friday: 142–103 loss vs. New York — Started; 21:40, 10 points, 4–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -6
Tuesday: 129–126 loss at Oklahoma City — Started; 22:42, 6 points, 1–5 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, +9 (suffered back spasms during game)
Wednesday: 129–93 win vs. Houston — Started; 24:46, 17 points, 6–9 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, +23
Thursday: 136–131 win at San Antonio — Started; 15 points, 6–8 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, +8
Next game — 8:30 Saturday at Los Angeles Lakers, ABC
Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks center
Age 25 | 6–9, 225 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
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 — 32 games, 4.5 points, 55.8 FG%, 46.0 3P%, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Team record: 27–38, 11th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: 113–99 win vs. Utah — 13:39, 5 points, 2–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, +11
Sunday: 130–91 loss vs. Orlando — 22:00, 6 points, 3–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 fouls, -17
Tuesday: 129–114 loss vs. Phoenix — 12:19, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, -5
Thursday: 112–105 loss at Miami — Did not play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 3 p.m. Saturday at Atlanta
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 — 50 games, 6.2 points, 42.0 FG%, 29.1 3FG%, 90.5 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
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: 15–49, 13th in Eastern Conference
Friday in G League with Long Island Nets: 117–115 win at Greensboro Swarm — Started; 30 minutes, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, +6
Monday: 126–115 win vs. Memphis — Started; 26:40, 9 points, 3–7 FG, 3–6 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -3
Thursday: 108–97 loss at Atlanta — Started; 32:11, 11 points, 4–13 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, team-low -17
Next Brooklyn game — 1 p.m. Saturday at Philadelphia
Next Long Island game — 3:30 Sunday at Osceola Magic, Prime Video
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 24 | 6–9, 265 | 5th season | $6.25 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Season statistics — 62 games, 8.7 points, 60.1 FG%, 23.1 3P%, 67.8 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 15–49, 13th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: 107–105 win at Detroit — Didn’t start; 21:19, 13 points, 6–10 FG, 1–1 3FG, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, +6
Monday: 126–115 win vs. Memphis — Didn’t start; 17:34, 19 points (tied season high), 8–11 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–2 Ft, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +16
Tuesday: 138–100 loss vs. Detroit and Thursday: 108–97 loss at Atlanta— Didn’t play (left thumb strain); out for season
Next game — 1 p.m. Saturday at Philadelphia
Coby White, Charlotte Hornets forward
Age 26 | 6–4, 195 | 7th season | $12.88 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard ahead of Ayo Dosunmu
Season statistics — 36 games, 17.3 points, 43.1 FG%, 34.3 3PFG, 80.3 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists
Team record: 34–33, 10th in Eastern Conference
Friday: 128–120 loss vs. Miami — Didn’t start; 16:57, 13 points, 4–11 FG, 1–6 3FG, 4–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +8
Sunday: 111–99 loss at Phoenix — Didn’t start; 19:36, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 4 assist, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -14
Tuesday: 103–101 win at Portland — Didn’t play (left calf injury management)
Wednesday: 117–109 win at Sacramento — Didn’t start; 19:54, 9 points, 3–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, -4
Next game — 3:30 Saturday at San Antonio, Prime Video
Out for season
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)
Season statistics — 41 games, 18.1 points, 45.1 FG%, 40.9 3P%, 86.5 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Friday: 131–110 win at Santa Cruz Warriors — Started; 34 minutes, 30 points, 8–14 FG, 6–10 3FG, 4–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +23
Sunday: 113–104 win at Santa Cruz Warriors — Started; 21 minutes, 9 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 block, -1
Wednesday: 123–116 win vs. Iowa Wolves — Didn’t start; 11 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 block, +5
Next game — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Iowa Wolves
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
Season G League statistics — 33 games, 16.1 points, 49.1 FG%, 34.2 3P%, 61.1 FT%, 12.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals
Sunday: 119–118 win at Sioux City Skyforce — Started, 34 minutes, 15 points, 5–10 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 foul, 4 turnovers, 1 block, +10
Tuesday: 94–86 win at Rio Grande Valley Vipers — Started, 32 minutes, 20 points, 8–12 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–6 FT, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 foul, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks, +18
Thursday: 122–119 win vs. Texas Legends — Started, 26 minutes, 15 points, 5–10 FG, 0–2 3FG, 4–6 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -1
Next game — 4 p.m. Sunday vs. Stockton Kings
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 — 45 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 11.3 points, 39.0 FG%, 32.1 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists
G League season statistics — 6 games, 23.5 points, 42.6 FG%, 18.8 3P%, 78.6 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.7 turnovers
Friday: 132–122 win vs. Valley Suns — Started; 29 minutes, 26 points, 10–22 FG, 1–8 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, +13
Saturday: 126–125 win vs. Valley Suns — Started; 28 minutes, 18 points, 8–15 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 turnovers, +3
Wednesday: 128–118 loss at San Diego Clippers and Thursday: 126–115 loss at San Diego Clippers — Not active for either game
Next game — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. South Bay Lakers, Prime Video
Cormac Ryan, Wisconsin Herd (Bucks) guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Season statistics — 30 games, 20.6 points, 48.6 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 88.3 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals
Friday: 116–104 loss vs. Mexico City Capitanes, Saturday: 116–97 loss vs. Mexico City Capitanes, Monday: 109–103 win vs. Valley Suns and Wednesday: 126–113 loss at Osceola Magic— Didn’t play
Next game — 8 p.m. Monday at Windy City Bulls, Prime Video
Photo via @chicagobulls
