By R.L. Bynum
Coby White stayed hot from the perimeter and kept the Chicago Bulls’ streak going, showing they are fine without Zach LaVine. White and Cole Anthony both had big games in victories to extend their opponents’ long losing streaks, and a confident Day’Ron Sharpe had his best game of the season.
White scored 24 points and six 3-pointers, adding six assists and four rebounds, as the Bulls overcame 21 points and 20 rebounds from rookie Victor Wembanyama for a 121–112 road win over San Antonio. It was Chicago’s fourth straight win and the Spurs’ 16th consecutive loss.
White, who was 9 of 15 from the floor and 6 of 7 from 3-point range, extended his Chicago franchise record of consecutive games with at least three 3-pointers to 10. White has made 54% of his 3-point attempts in the last eight games, including 17 of the last 27 in the past three games.
LaVine, averaging 21 points in 18 games this season, could miss another month with foot inflammation. But in the five games without him, White is averaging 24 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, shooting 47% from the floor, 54% from 3-point range and 86.7% from the free-throw line.
Wembanyama, 19, became the youngest player in NBA history with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game, but San Antonio’s losing streak tied a franchise record.
White’s 3-pointer during a 12–0 Chicago run with 6:41 left in the third quarter gave Chicago (9–14) the lead for good at 69–68.
White put up a game score of 20.5 after putting up a 27.2 six days earlier to give him two games of at least 20 after putting up three all of last season.
Sharpe scored a season-high 15 points with 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season, and a season-high 16.4 game score as Brooklyn rolled to a 124–97 home win over Washington for the Nets’ fifth win in six games.
“Just realizing nobody can really stop me on the glass,” said Sharpe, who played 20 minutes off the bench. “I’m a dog on the glass. I’m going at you every play, and you’re going to have to stop me every play, and I just feel like that’s just getting my confidence going. I’m finding myself more.“
Sharpe said that he’s more comfortable with the ball and trusts his teammates, and his teammates trust him.
After the Nets only led 50–47 at halftime, they outscored the Wizards 74–50 in the second half to put Brooklyn a season-high three games over .500 at 12–9.
“I think we were more aggressive on defense in the second half, and we hit some 3s, too,” Sharpe said. “We just hit them in the mouth, and they backed off, and we kept playing hard.”
Cameron Johnson contributed seven points and five rebounds for the Nets.
Anthony collected 16 points, six assists and three rebounds as host Orlando beat Detroit 123–91 to extend the Pistons’ losing streak to 19 games.
Harrison Barnes had nine points, eight rebounds and two assists in Sacramento’s 114–106 road win over short-handed Phoenix.
The Suns, already playing without Kevin Durant (ankle injury) and Bradley Beal (back), lost Nassir Little in the first quarter after he played only four minutes. He appeared dizzy after taking a shot from Kings center JaVale McGee and a hard fall. Little is being evaluated for a concussion.
Walker Kessler returned to the Utah starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 6, contributing eight points, 12 rebounds, five blocks, three assists and two steals in the Jazz’s 117–103 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He had come off the bench in six consecutive games after missing seven games with an elbow injury.
Neither Charlotte’s Leaky Black nor Houston’s Reggie Bullock played in their teams’ games Friday night (coach’s decisions.) Black hasn’t played in the last four Hornets games, and Bullock has played in only two of the last six Rockets games.
In the G League on Thursday, Justin Jackson had 21 points and seven rebounds in the Texas Legends’ 101–97 road win over the Memphis Hustle. Theo Pinson had four points, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals off the bench, and Tony Bradley wasn’t active for the game.
Pete Nance had two points, six rebounds and two assists in the Cleveland Charge’s 116–100 Thursday home loss to the Indiana Mad Ants.
Cole Anthony, Milwaukee Bucks guard
Age 25 | 6–2, 185 | 6th season | $2.67 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Third-string point guard behind Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins
Season statistics — 33 games, 7.0 points, 44.6 FG%, 32.8 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Team record: 18–27, 12th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 139–122 loss at Philadelphia — 14:13, 10 points, 3–8 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 asisst, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -17
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday at Washington, Prime Video
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 — 46 games, 10.6 points, 43.6 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 87.3 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 32–15, 2nd in Western Conference
Wednesday: 111–99 win at Houston —Started; 28:46, 9 points, 4–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 foul, +1
Next game — 3 p.m. Saturday at Charlotte, Prime Video
Tony Bradley, Indiana Pacers center
Age 27 | 6–10, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
Roster situation — Third-string center behind Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson
Season statistics — 38 games, 4.0 points, 55.7 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Team record: 12–36, 14th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 113–110 win vs. Chicago — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Atlanta
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 — 28 games, 11.7 points, 46.1 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 81.0 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 31–16, 3rd in Western Conference
Out for at least a month with a bone bruise and hyperextended right knee
Caleb Love, Portland Trail Blazers guard
Age 24 | 6–3, 212 | Rookie season | Two-way contract | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup point guard behind Deni Avdija/fourth-string 2 guard
Season statistics — 39 games, 11.3 points, 39.3 FG%, 32.8 3P%, 74.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Team record: 23–24, 9th in Western Conference
Thursday: Blazers 127, Heat 110 — Didn’t start; 33:30, 20 points, 8–19 FG, 4–12 3FG, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers, +15
Friday: Raptors 110, Blazers 98 — Didn’t start; 28:41, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 3–6 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, -1
Monday: (at) Celtics 102, Blazer 94 — Didn’t start; 25:45, 11 points, 5–14 FG, 1–7 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, -1
Next game — 7:30 Friday at New York
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 statistics — 34 games, 6.1 points, 44.0 FG%, 30.6 3FG%, 89.7 FT%, 1.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 of a steal
Team record: 12–33, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 106–102 loss at Phoenix — Started; 8:28, 1 turnover, -9
Next game — 9 p.m. Thursday at Denver
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 — 43 games, 7.8 points, 60.3 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 67.3 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 12–33, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 106–102 loss at Phoenix — Didn’t start; 19:19, 7 points, 3–5 FG, 1–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 foul, +5
Next game — 9 p.m. Thursday at Denver
Coby White, Chicago Bulls forward
Age 25 | 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 — 26 games, 18.8 points, 45.2 FG%, 36.6 3PFG, 79.8 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Team record: 23–24, 9th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 113–110 loss at Indiana — Started; 31:34, 14 points, 5–15 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls, -9
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Miami
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
Leaky Black, Capital City Go-Go (Wizards) guard
Age 26 | 6–6, 209 | 3rd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 27 games, 11.1 points, 46.2 FG%, 35.1 3P%, 68.0 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.0 steals
Thursday: (at) Austin Spurs 110, Capital City 103 — Started; 37 minutes, 15 points, 6–11 FG, 3–7 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 2 blocks, -4
Friday: Capital City 112, (at) Austin Spurs 96 — Started; 36 minutes, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 2–5 3FG, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 1 block, +24
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Wisconsin Herd
Garrison Brooks, Birmingham Squadron (Pelicans) center
Age 26 | 6–9, 230 | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
Season statistics — 26 games, 5.3 points, 44.3 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 68.4 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.4 of a block
Wednesday: 115–97 win vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce — Inactive for game
Next game — 7 p.m. Friday at Noblesville Boom
RJ Davis, South Bay Lakers guard
Age 23 | 6–0, 180 | rookie season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2020–25 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 26 games, 18.0 points, 43.0 FG%, 38.6 3P%, 87.3 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Tuesday: 121–107 win vs. College Park Skyhawks — Started; 30 minutes, 21 points, 7–18 FG, 3–7 3FG, 2–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +17
Next game — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Salt Lake City Stars, ESPN+
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 — 20 games, 14.6 points, 48.1 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 11.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Tuesday: 116–107 win at Valley Suns — Started; 27 minutes, 9 points, 4–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1–3 FT, 12 rebounds, 5 assist, 2 fouls 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +5
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Stockton Kings, ESPN+
Pete Nance, Wisconsin Herd 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 — 15 games, 2.9 points, 54.8 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 1.2 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Tuesday in NBA with Bucks: 139–122 loss at Philadelphia — 2:23, 2 points, 1–2 FG, -3
Next game — 2 p.m. Friday at Capital City Go-Go
Cormac Ryan, Wisconsin Herd (Bucks) guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Season statistics — 21 games, 20.0 points, 49.5 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 92.5 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals
Thursday: Noblesville Boom 95, Wisconsin 90 — Started; 31 minutes, 23 points, 9–12 FG, 5–8 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, -2
Saturday: Noblesville Boom 117, Wisconsin 115 — Started; 37 minutes, 25 points, 8–13 FG, 3–5 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 fouls, 1 steal, 6 turnovers, -17
Next game — 2 p.m. Friday at Capital City Go-Go
Photo via @chicagobulls
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