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, 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
Tony Bradley, Texas Legends center
Age 25 | 6–11, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
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
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends guard
Age 28 | 6–8, 220 | seventh pro season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
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
Theo Pinson, Texas Legends guard
Age 27 | 6–7, 212 | sixth pro season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
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
Photo via @chicagobulls
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