Tar Heels in NBA: White-hot Coby scores 24 points, six 3s as Bulls win fourth straight; Sharpe has season-high, double-double; Anthony scores 16

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.


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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.

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 66 games, 10.2 points, 44.9 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 84.4 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 54–18, 2nd in Western Conference
Thursday: 101–100 win vs. Phoenix — Started; 23:05, 6 points, 3–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, -4
Saturday: 134–119 win vs. Indiana — Started; 22:34, 12 points, 4–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, +21 (tied for team-high)
Monday: 136–111 win at Miami — Didn’t start; 13 points, 4–8 FG, 4–7 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, +12
Next game 8 p.m. Wednesday at Memphis


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 — 6 games, 8.8 points, 46.3 FG%, 42.9 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 16–55, 14th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 117–95 loss vs. Detroit and Saturday: 132–111 loss vs. Oklahoma City Didn’t play
Sunday: 145–113 loss at New York 16:43, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -1
Next game 9 p.m. Wednesday at Utah


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 47 games, 11.9 points, 46.8 FG%, 42.8 3P%, 83.7 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 45–28, 4th in Western Conference
Wednesday: 125–118 loss at Memphis Started; 33:29, 20 points, 7–13 FG, 5–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -6
Friday: 121–115 win vs. Toronto Started; 30:55, 6 points, 2–7 FT, 0–4 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +7
Sunday: 128–112 win vs. Portland Started; 27:42, 19 points, 7–10 FG, 5–7 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +19
Tuesday: 125–123 win at Phoenix Started; 32:41, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 2–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 5 fouls, team-low -12
Next game 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Dallas


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 — 37 games, 4.5 points, 56.4 FG%, 47.9 3P%, 2.2 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Team record: 29–42, 11th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 128–96 loss at Utah 13:02, 0–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, -14
Saturday: 108–105 win at Phoenix 27:01, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 fouls, +1
Monday: 129–96 loss at Los Angeles Clippers 31:25, 11 points, 5–12 FG, 1–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, -14
Next game 10 p.m. Wednesday at Portland


Roster situation Starting shooting guard
Season NBA statistics 54 games, 6.0 points, 41.3 FG%, 28.4 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: 17–55, 13th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 121–92 loss vs. Oklahoma City Started; 16:22, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 turnover, -13
Friday: 93–92 loss vs. New York Started; 24:36, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, -12
Sunday: 126–122 loss at Sacramento Started; 27:42, 8 points, 4–9 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls, -3
Monday: 134–99 loss at Portland Didn’t play (left knee injury management)
Next game 10 p.m. Wednesday at Golden State


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 — 41 games, 17.8 points, 44.3 FG%, 36.0 3PFG, 81.6 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Team record: 37–34, 9th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 130–111 win vs. Orlando — Didn’t start; 22:50, 27 points, 7–13 FG, 5–8 3FG, 8–8 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, -2
Saturday: 124–101 win vs. Memphis — Didn’t start; 19:12, 12 points, 4–11 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 fouls, +13
Tuesday: 134–90 win vs. Sacramento — Didn’t start; 18:25, 27 points, 9–12 FG, 6–8 3FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, +26
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday vs. New York, NBATV


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


Season statistics — 46 games, 18.6 points, 46.3 FG%, 41.8 3P%, 86.9 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Friday: 111–98 win vs. Grand Rapids Gold Started; 33 minutes, 25 points, 8–16 FG, 3–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, +13
Saturday: 119–111 win vs. Grand Rapids Gold Started; 29 minutes, 22 points, 8–10 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, -8
Tuesday: 115–114 loss vs. Stockton Kings Started; 34 minutes, 16 points, 6–16 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 block, +1
Next game 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce


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
Friday: 121–107 win at Noblesville Boom — Started, 34 minutes, 26 points, 11–16 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 fouls, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +11
Sunday: 117–97 win at Noblesville Boom — Started, 34 minutes, 15 points, 6–14 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2FT, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +18
Next game 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Rip City Remix


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 — 10 games, 24.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers
Friday: 126–117 loss vs. Raptors 905 Started; 37 minutes, 33 points, 9–21 FG, 4–12 3FG, 7–9 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, +3
Saturday: 115–107 win vs. Raptors 905 Started; 30 minutes, 20 points, 7–22 FG, 1–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers, -14
Next game 8 p.m. Wednesday at Austin Spurs, ESPN+


Season statistics — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
Friday: 123–105 loss vs. Motor City Cruise, Saturday: 113–108 loss vs. Motor City Cruise and Monday: 113–108 loss vs. Motor City Cruise Didn’t play
Next game 11 a.m. Thursday at Raptors 905


Photo via @chicagobulls

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