Tar Heels in NBA: White flirts with triple-double, scores 22, makes big late defensive play as Bulls end 76ers’ win streak

By R.L. Bynum

Coby White continues to do it all for the Chicago Bulls, and was on triple-double watch in the final minutes. But disrupting a potential game-tying inside drive by a 7–0 center in the final seconds was new.

White came over on a defensive rotation and leaped high to challenge Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid as he lunged toward the basket. That forced the All-Star big man to fumble his shot, which went high off the backboard with 6.6 seconds left. DeMar DeRozan hit two free throws, and the Bulls earned a 108–104 victory to snap the Sixers’ six-game win streak.

White followed up a 22-point, seven-rebound, five-assist showing in Saturday’s 118–116 loss at Miami with 24 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in Monday’s win. He extended his career-long streak of consecutive games of at least 20 points to six and is averaging 22.9 points during a stretch of six wins in nine games.

“I’m just playing,” said White, whose 23.5 game score was his sixth in the last eight games of more than 20. “I’m just hooping. Like I always say, man, I give credit to my teammates, my coaches staff, the organization; they believe in me. They give me confidence each and every day to go out there and just be myself. So I can’t thank them enough for that.”

It was the second time in three games that White has come close to a triple-double, after collecting 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds Tuesday at Miami.

White extending his franchise record of consecutive games with at least three 3-pointers to 14 at Miami on Saturday. The streak ended Monday, though, when he was 2 of 6 shooting from outside the arc.

“We just made a bunch of plays down at the end,” White said.

The Bulls (11–17, 12th in the Eastern Conference) are playing without All-Star Zach LaVine (left foot inflammation), who will be out for an extended period.

Chicago rallied from a 12-point first-quarter deficit as White scored 13 points in the opening period’s last 4:42. The Bulls took a 55–44 lead behind 16 first-half points from White. White gave Chicago the lead in transition with an explosive one-handed slam with 5:19 left in the first half.


After scoring 16 points and three 3-pointers in Saturday’s 125–104 home win over Utah, Harrison Barnes had 19 points and two 3-pointers Monday in Sacramento’s 143–131 victory over Washington.

Barnes scored 13 of the Kings’ 46 third-quarter points as Sacramento (16–9, fourth in the Western Conference) won its third straight and fourth of the last five.


Rookie Leaky Black played a season-high 11 minutes in Charlotte’s 114–99 Monday loss at Toronto, collecting four points, four rebounds and one assist and getting a transition slam dunk in the first half.

Black didn’t play in Friday’s 112–107 home loss to New Orleans, and had two points and two assists in seven minutes of Saturday’s 135–82 home defeat against Philadelphia. Previously, his highest minutes total was seven in that game against the Sixers.


Brooklyn lost the last three games of a five-game West Coast road trip, going 2–3 to fall to 13–13 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.


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The Nets fell 124–120 at Golden State on Saturday and 125–108 Monday at Utah. Cameron Johnson had 13 points, and Day’Ron Sharpe was scoreless on Saturday. Johnson had 14 points and Sharpe six points and five rebounds on Monday.

Walker Kessler had 14 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks for Utah against the Nets, his fifth double-double in 19 games this season and fifth game with at least five blocks. On Saturday, Kessler only had two points and three rebounds off the bench in the Jazz’s loss at Sacramento.


Orlando lost a pair of games at Boston over the weekend, with Cole Anthony collecting 17 points and four assists in Friday’s 128–111 loss and six points and four assists in Sunday’s 114–97 defeat.


Nassir Little got his first Phoenix start on Sunday in the Suns’ 112–108 home win over Washington, contributing five points and seven rebounds. He had five points and four rebounds off the bench in Friday’s 139–122 home loss to New York.


After Reggie Bullock was scoreless in four minutes during Houston’s 103–96 win Friday at Memphis, he didn’t play in either Sunday’s 128–119 loss at Milwaukee or Monday’s 135–130 defeat at Cleveland (coach’s decision.)

Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 33 | 6–7, 225 | 14th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

Roster situation Reserve
Final regular-season statistics 77 games, 9.9 points, 45.6 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 82.9 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Team record: 62–20, 2nd in Western Conference
Monday: 115–102 win vs. Philadelphia — Didn’t start; 17:08, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, +4
Wednesday: 112–101 win vs. Portland — Didn’t start; 26:47, 9 points, 2–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5–6 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +13
Friday: 139–120 win vs. Dallas — Didn’t start; 28:08, 15 points, 6–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, +13
Sunday: 128–119 loss vs. Denver — Didn’t start; 25:09, 12 points, 5–11 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, -5
Next game First round Game 1 as No. 2 seed in the West: 9 p.m. Sunday vs. the No. 7 seed (the winner of the 10 p.m. Tuesday play-in game between Phoenix and Portland), NBC, Peacock


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
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 15 games, 7.1 points, 38.8 FG%, 34.5 3FG%, 87.5 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals
Team record: 17–65, 14th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 129–98 loss vs. Chicago Started; 23:57, 3 points, 1–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, team-low -31
Thursday: 119–108 loss vs. Chicago Started; 40:51, 14 points, 6–14 FG, 2–8 3FG, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -12
Friday: 140–117 loss vs. Miami Started; 31:43, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 2–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, -11
Sunday: 130–117 loss at Cleveland Didn’t start; 9:22, 0–3 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, -3
The Wizards didn’t qualify for the postseason


Final regular-season statistics — 41 games, 4.0 points, 54.7 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Team record: 46–36, 6th in Eastern Conference
Monday: 108–105 loss vs. New York 3:34, 0–2 FG, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -2
Wednesday: 122–116 loss at Cleveland Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Friday: 124–102 win vs. Cleveland 9:04, 7 points, 3–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, -14
Sunday: 143–117 loss at Miami Started; 4 points, 2–6 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, -18
Next game First round, Game 1: 6 p.m. Saturday at New York, Prime Video


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.
Final regular-season statistics 54 games, 12.2 points, 48.0 FG%, 43.0 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 54–28, 3rd in Western Conference
Monday: 137–132 win vs. Portland Started; 36:40, 17 points, 6–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–5 FT, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls, team-high +25
Wednesday: 136–119 win vs. Memphis Started; 29:43, 18 points, 8–12 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +7
Friday: 127–107 win vs. Oklahoma City and Sunday: 128118 win at San Antonio Didn’t play (ankle injury)
Next game First round, Game 1 as No. 3 seed in the West: 3:30 Saturday vs. No. 6 Minnesota, Prime Video


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
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 47 games, 5.4 points, 51.5 FG%, 42.0 3P%, 36.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Team record: 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 96–90 loss at Brooklyn Started; 26:25, 8 points, 3–8 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, team-low -13
Wednesday: 137–111 loss at Detroit Didn’t start; 18:00, 0–4 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, team-low -21
Friday: 125–108 win vs. Brooklyn and Sunday: 126–106 loss at Philadelphia Didn’t play (right knee sprain)
The Bucks didn’t qualify for the postseason.


Roster situation Starting shooting guard
Final regular-season NBA statistics 63 games, 6.5 points, 40.2 FG%, 28.0 3FG%, 89.6 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 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: 20–62, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 96–90 win vs. Milwaukee Started; 40:27, 11 points, 4–16 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -2
Thursday: 123–94 loss vs. Indiana Didn’t start; 20:04, 2 points, 1–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -17
Friday: 125–108 loss at Milwaukee Didn’t play (injury/illness)
Sunday: 125–108 loss at Milwaukee Started; 25:15, 8 points, 3–10 FG, 0–4 3G, 2–2FT, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, team-low -32
The Nets didn’t qualify for the postseason.


Final season G League statistics (Wisconsin Herd) — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 11 games, 14.3 points, 52.0 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 92.3 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 96–90 loss at Brooklyn Didn’t start; 33:43, 14 points, 5–12 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1– FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 6 fouls, -5
Wednesday: 137–111 loss at Detroit Didn’t start; 24:31, 16 points, 6–9 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -11
Friday: 125–108 win vs. Brooklyn Started; 33:58, 28 points, 10–17 FG, 5–9 3FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, +21
Sunday: 126–106 loss at Philadelphia Started; 38:15, 22 points, 8–20 FG, 3–12 3FG, 3–3 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -18
The Bucks didn’t qualify for the postseason.


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
Final regular-season statistics — 50 games, 17.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 36.2 3PFG, 81.7 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Team record: 44–38, 9th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 113–102 loss at Boston Didn’t play (groin injury)
Friday: 118–100 loss vs. Detroit Didn’t start; 16:10, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 2–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, team-low -20
Sunday: 110–96 win at New York Didn’t start; 16:18, 19 points, 6–10 FG, 3–6 3FG, 4–6 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, team-high +18
Next game First round, Play-in Tournament: 7:30 Tuesday vs. Miami, Prime Video (loser eliminated; winner faces loser of the Philadelphia-Orlando game in another elimination game)


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


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
Final playoffs statistics — 3 games, 14.3 points, 45.2 FG%, 35.3 3P%, 6–6 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists
G League season over.


Final regular-season NBA statistics — 4 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +11
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
Friday with Spurs: 139–120 win vs. Dallas — 5:38, -2
G League season is over.


Final regular-season NBA season statistics — 49 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 10.4 points, 38.8 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 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
Wednesday with Blazers: 112101 loss at San Antonio 2:12, 1 turnover, -4
Sunday with Blazers: 122110 win vs. Sacramento 1:39, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3G, -4
Next Blazers game First round, Play-in Tournament: 10 p.m. Tuesday at Phoenix, Prime Video (loser eliminated; winner faces San Antonio in first-round series beginning Sunday)


Photo via @ChicagoBulls

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