Johnson, Anthony score 20, White has 17 and Sharpe pulls down career-high 15 rebounds

By R.L. Bynum

Cameron Johnson and Cole Anthony each scored 20 points, Coby White netted 17, and Day’Ron Sharpe pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds on a productive night for UNC alums.

The big games from Johnson and Sharpe came in a 121–102 Wednesday home loss to New York, with Johnson collecting four 3-pointers, four rebounds and two assists. Sharpe, who had a career-high nine offensive rebounds, added six points and three assists in his eighth double-digit rebounding game of the season.

New York’s first win in Brooklyn in four years was the Nets’ fourth consecutive defeat.


Anthony’s productive night, adding four rebounds and three assists in only 25 minutes, was also in a loss as host Orlando lost to Miami 115–106.

The Heat took control with a 17–0 first-half run.

“We didn’t get back on defense. We were in a constant scrambling mode and they made us pay,” Anthony said. “We’ve got to grow up as a unit. We had a good run for a while and we’ve hit a rough patch. We can’t handicap ourselves like that and then expect to dig ourselves out. That’s called beating ourselves.”


For the first time in seven games, White scored fewer than 20 points, but he had seven rebounds and five assists in Chicago’s 124–108 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

White’s three 3-pointers contributed to the Bulls’ best perimeter shooting game since losing Zach LaVine to right foot inflammation, as they made 18 of 34 3-point attempts and have averaged 14 3s in the last 10 games.

“Playing a lot faster has opened up a lot for us in that regard,” White said. “Transition 3s and not playing against a set defense.”


Walker Kessler had 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block in Utah’s 124–116 loss at Cleveland.


Leaky Black was scoreless in four minutes of Charlotte’s 144–113 defeat at Indiana.


In the G League, Justin Jackson scored 19 points, four 3-pointers and pulled down five rebounds in the Texas Legends’ 133–129 loss to Delaware in the Winter Showcase in Orlando. Tony Bradley added 16 points and seven rebounds for Texas, with Theo Pinson pitching in eight points, six rebounds and five assists.

Cole Anthony, Milwaukee Bucks guard
Age 25 | 6–2, 185 | 6th season | $2.67 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

Roster situation — Backup point guard behind Kevin Porter
Season statistics 25 games, 6.9 points, 43.5 FG%, 27.5 3P%, 59.1 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Team record: 11–17, 11th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: Nets 127, Bucks 82 Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game 7 p.m. Sunday at Minnesota


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 27 games, 12.6 points, 46.8 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 86.5 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Team record: 20–7, 3rd in Western Conference
Friday: Spurs 126, (at) Hawks 98 — Started; 21:48, 7 points, 2–3 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, +13
Next game 7 p.m. Sunday at Washington


Roster situation Third-string center behind Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson
Season statistics 23 games, 4.7 points, 56.8 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 74.2 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Team record: 6–22, 14th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: (at) Pelicans 128, Pacers 109 Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game 7:30 Monday at Boston


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 25 games, 11.7 points, 46.6 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Team record: 20–7, 3rd in Western Conference
Saturday: Rockets 115, Nuggets 101 Started; 31:53, 6 points, 2–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, -14
Next game 9 p.m. Monday vs Utah


Roster situation Backup point guard behind Deni Avdija/fourth-string 2 guard
Season statistics19 games, 7.9 points, 33.7 FG%, 26.3 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 12–16, 10th in Western Conference
Saturday: Blazers 98, (at) Kings 93 Didn’t start; 9:25, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 foul, -13
Next game 10 p.m. Monday vs. Detroit


Roster situation Backup 2 guard behind Terance Mann
Season statistics 19 games, 6.0 points, 48.8 FG%, 37.8 3FG%, 95.2 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Team record: 7–19, 13th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: Heat 106, Nets 95 3:56, 3 rebounds, -1; left early with third right ankle sprain of the season.
Next game 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Toronto


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 25 games, 7.0 points, 59.3 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 63.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 7–19, 13th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: Heat 106, Nets 95 13:13, 4 points, 2–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +1
Next game 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Toronto


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 — 11 games, 21.2 points, 44.0 FG%, 28.6 3PFG, 81.8 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists
Team record: 12–15, 10th in Eastern Conference
Friday: Bulls 136, (at) Cavaliers 125 Started; 29:46, 13 points, 5–13 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, +16
Next game 3:30 Sunday at Atlanta


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


Season statistics14 games, 10.7 points, 43.5 FG%, 21.6 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals
Team record: 8–8, 6th in East Division
Saturday at Winter Showcase in Orlando: Capital City 125, Oklahoma City Blue 86 Started; 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–3 3FG, 4 assists, 1 foul, 1 turnover, +31
Next game 11:30 Monday vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce in Orlando, Fla., NBATV


Season statistics12 games, 5.5 points, 45.8 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 50.0 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 of a block
Team record: 10–6, 3rd in East Division
Saturday at Winter Showcase in Orlando: Iowa Wolves 117, Birmingham 101 Didn’t start; 0 points, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, -10
Next game 7:30 Sunday vs. Valley Suns in Orlando, Fla., Roku Sports Channel


Season statistics13 games, 18.8 points, 43.0 FG%, 35.4 3P%, 89.2 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 of a steals
Team record: 8–8, 5th in West Division
Saturday at Winter Showcase in Orlando: South Bay 130, Sioux Falls Skyforce 106 Didn’t start, 16 points, 4–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls, 2 steals, +20
Next game 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Wisconsin Herd in Orlando, ESPNU


Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 8 games, 16.3 points, 51.1 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals
Team record: 8–8, 5th in South Division
Friday in quarterfinals of the Winter Showcase Cup in Orlando: Stockton Kings 119, Austin Spurs 117, OT Didn’t start; 35 minutes, 11 points, 5–11 FG, 1–3 3FG, 0–1 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 fouls, -11
Next game noon Sunday vs. Maine Celtics at Winter Showcase in Orlando, NBATV


Season G League statistics — 6 games, 20.0 points, 60.8 FG%, 45.2 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 blocks
Season NBA statistics — 7 games, 37 minutes, 18 points, 7–14 FG, 4–9 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Team record: 5–11, 8th in Central Division
Tuesday: Iowa Wolves 110, Wisconsin 108 Inactive for game
Next game 6 p.m. Sunday vs. South Bay Lakers in Orlando, Fla., ESPNU


Season statistics — 6 games, 16.0 points, 47.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 13–13 FT, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Team record: 5–11, 8th in Central Division
Tuesday: Iowa Wolves 110, Wisconsin 108 Didn’t start; 23 minutes, 14 points, 5–11 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 block, +3
Next game 6 p.m. Sunday vs. South Bay Lakers in Orlando, Fla., ESPNU


Photo via @OrlandoMagic

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