By R.L. Bynum
Three teammates on Carolina’s 2017 national championship team — Tony Bradley, Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson — keep putting up big numbers in the G League for the Texas Legends.
All three started and produced double-doubles on Saturday night as the host Legends won their second consecutive game with a 121–110 victory over the South Bay Lakers. Texas is off to a 2–1 start in the regular season after finishing 6–10 in the Showcase Cup.
Pinson scored 17 points and tied his career-high with 15 assists while pulling down five rebounds and blocking a shot Saturday after collecting 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in Thursday’s 112–111 win at Mexico City.
Pinson made a nice pass to Bradley for a dunk late in the first half.
In 27 minutes Saturday, Bradley collected 26 points on 12 of 16 shooting. He pulled down 15 rebounds and tied his career-high with five assists after putting up 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists on Thursday.
Jackson had 20 points, four 3-pointers, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals in Saturday’s victory after contributing 23 points, five 3-pointers and five assists in Thursday’s win.
Pinson revealed during the below interview that his “hidden talent” is beating Jackson in Madden.
On Thursday, Coby White scored 16 points, including a long-distance 3-pointer at the end of a shot clock, in Chicago’s 120–114 home loss to Indiana.
His 3-pointer from halfway between the arc and half court with 8:19 left in the game gave the Bulls a 91–90 lead.
Saturday, White had 20 points, eight rebounds and two assists in the Bulls’ 105–92 home win over Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid (right ankle injury). He continues to go through a bit of a shooting slump, as he is 12 of 34 from the floor and 3 of 11 from 3-point range in the last two games.
Chicago (15–19) went 9–5 in December after starting the season 4–14.
“The season didn’t start how we wanted it to start,” White said. “Everybody’s ready to contribute when the opportunity presents itself.”
Cameron Johnson returned to the Brooklyn lineup for the Nets’ 110–104 Friday loss at Washington after resting because of a right knee strain in the previous game. He had 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Day’Ron Sharpe, who contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists, didn’t let losing one of his shoes deter him from making a play in the first half.
Walker Kessler contributed 11 points, four rebounds, two steals and a block in Utah’s 112–105 Thursday loss at New Orleans. He had 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in Saturday’s 117–109 home win over Miami.
Cole Anthony had nine points, five assists and two steals in Orlando’s 117–108 Friday home win over New York.
Harrison Barnes got benched in favor of Chris Duarte in Sacramento’s 117–110 Friday win at Atlanta, playing only 12 minutes and scoring only two points. In 25 minutes, though, Duarte only scored five points.
Reggie Bullock didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Houston’s 131–127 Friday home loss to Philadelphia. Bullock missed two December games because of an illness but hasn’t gotten off the bench in five of the last six games in which he was active.
Nassir Little missed Phoenix’s 133–119 Friday home win over Charlotte with left knee soreness.
The Cleveland Charge’s Pete Nance and the Greensboro Swarm’s Leaky Black have missed their last two G League games because of illness.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 24 | 6–2, 185 | 5th season | $12.9 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting point guard/shooting guard
Season statistics — 51 games, 13 starts, 9.2 points, 42.5 FG%, 32.5 3P% (career-low), 78.6 FT% (career-low), 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 of a steal
Season-highs — 35 points, 8 rebounds (also at Charlotte Nov. 25), 31.1 game score Dec. 21 vs. Miami; 3 3-pointers five times; 11 assists Jan. 3 at Toronto; 3 steals Oct. 25 vs. Brooklyn
Record — 27–29; 7th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday at Atlanta
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 32 | 6–8, 225 | 13th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Keldon Johnson
Season statistics — 52 games, 52 starts, 11.9 points, 50.2 FG% (career-high), 41.8 3P% (career-high), 80.7 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Season-highs — 25 points, 10 rebounds Nov. 21 vs. Utah; 7 3-pointers Feb. 8 at Orlando; 7 assists Jan. 29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers; 24.3 game score Nov. 23 vs. Golden State
Record — 23–29; 12th in Western Conference
Next game — 9:30 Thursday vs. Phoenix, TNT
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 28 | 6–8, 210 | 6th season | $22.5 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Trendon Watford
Season statistics — 39 games, 39 starts, 19.1 points, 48.8 FG% (career-high), 41.3 3P%, 89.4 FT% (career-high), 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 of a steal, 0.5 of a block
Season-highs — 37 points, 9 3-pointers Nov. 22 at Philadelphia; 10 rebounds, 6 assists (also Nov. 27 at Phoenix), 31.1 game score Dec. 19 at Toronto;
Record — 20–34; 12th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Cleveland
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 23 | 7–0, 245 | 3rd season | $2.97 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Kyle Filipowski
Season statistics — 42 games, 42 starts; 11.3 points (career-high), 71.8 FG% (career-high), 55.4 FT%, 11.8 rebounds (career-high), 1.5 assists (career-high), 2.4 blocks; missed Thursday’s game with a left thumb sprain
Season-highs — 21 points Jan. 7 vs. Atlanta; 26.3 game score Nov. 30 vs. Dallas; 22 rebounds Feb. 7 at Phoenix; 5 assists Nov. 27 vs. Denver and Jan. 1 at New York; 6 blocks Feb. 12 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Record — 13–41; 14th in Western Conference
Next game — 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Sacramento
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 22 | 6–9, 265 | 4th season | $3.8 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Statistics last season — 32 games, 0 starts, 8.2 points (career-high), 52.2 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 77.4 FT% (career-high), 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists (career-high), 0.6 of a block; missed first 20 games with a left hamstring strain
Season-highs — 16 points, 5 assists, 20.3 game score Jan. 6 vs. Indiana; 14 rebounds Jan. 15 at Los Angeles Clippers; 3 steals Dec. 16 vs. Cleveland, Jan. 27 vs. Sacramento; 13.2 game score Dec. 16 vs. Cleveland; 3 blocks Jan. 4 vs. Houston
Record — 20–34; 12th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Cleveland
Coby White, Chicago Bulls forward
Age 24 | 6–5, 195 | 6th season | $12 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting small forward
Season statistics — 48 games, 48 starts, 18.2 points, 42.7 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 89.4 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Season-highs — 35 points, 4 steals (also 2 other times), 31.7 game score Oct. 25 at Milwaukee; 9 3-pointers Jan. 4 vs. New York; 10 rebounds Dec. 30 at Charlotte; 9 assists four times
Record — 22–33; 10th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday at New York
Tar Heels in G League
Armando Bacot, Memphis Hustle center
Age 24 | 6–11, 240 | rookie season | UNC 2019–24 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 32 games, 15.0 points, 44.6 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 74.3 FT%, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks
Season-highs — 35 points Feb. 12 vs. Mexico City; 17 rebounds Nov. 9 vs. Rio Grande; 6 assists twice; 4 steals at Delaware on Jan. 12; 3 blocks Jan. 24 vs. Sioux Falls; 6 3-pointers vs. Rip City on Jan. 15
Record — 15–19; 12th in Western Conference
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Rio Grande, ESPN+
Leaky Black, Capital City Go-Go guard
Age 25 | 6–6, 209 | 2nd season | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 27 games, 6.7 points, 48.6 FG% (career-high), 35.6 3P% (career-high), 70.6 FT% (career-high), 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 of a block
Season-highs — 14 points, 3 blocks Nov. 13 at Greensboro, Jan. 23 at Osceola; 10 rebounds Feb. 8 vs. Oklahoma City; 4 assists, 3 3-pointers Nov. 24 at Maine; 4 steals Jan. 26 at Wisconsin
Record — 20–14; 4th in East Division
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday at Wisconsin, ESPN+
Harrison Ingram, Austin Spurs forward
Age 21 | 6–7, 230 | rookie season | $578,577 salary (2-way contract) | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
NBA season statistics with San Antonio — 2 games, 11 minutes, 0 points, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3PFG, 2 rebound, 1 foul
G League season statistics — 35 games, 10.9 points, 37.8 FG%, 29.1 3P%, 57.9 FT%, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals
Season-highs — 22 points, 4 3-pointers (also 4 other times) Nov. 22 at Birmingham, Jan. 4 at Raptors 905; 16 rebounds vs. Rio Grande Jan. 20; 8 assists Nov. 26 vs. Birmingham; twice, last Nov. 15 vs. Texas; 8 assists Nov. 26 vs. Birmingham; 4 3-pointers Dec. 15 vs. Oklahoma City
Record — 20–14; 7th in Western Conference
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Mexico City, ESPN+
Nassir Little, Sioux Falls Skyforce forward
Age 24 | 6–6, 220 | 6th season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Season statistic — 36 games, 17.0 points, 48.9 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 81.0 FT%, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.1 blocks
Season-highs — 29 points, 5 3-pointers Jan. 27 at Mexico City; 10 rebounds 3 times; 6 assists twice; 3 steals five times; 3 blocks 3 times
Record — 22–12; 2nd in Western Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Iowa, ESPN+
Sterling Manley, Rip City Remix center
Age 25 | 6–11, 250 | Rookie season | UNC 2017–21 (3 season2)
Season statistics — 21 games, 9.2 points, 62.2 FG%, 64.5 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.6 of a block
Season-highs — 18 points Dec. 8 vs. Santa Cruz, Jan. 6 vs. Stockton; 9 rebounds Nov. 25 vs. Valley, Jan. 22 vs. Utah; 3 blocks Jan. 1 vs. San Diego
Record — 18–14; 10th in Western Conference
Next game — 10 p.m. Thursday at South Bay, ESPN+
Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge center
Age 24 | 6–10, 225 | 2nd season | 2-way contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Began season with Cleveland Charge; signed two-way contract with Philadelphia Dec. 3 (played 8 games for Delaware and was released); re-signed with Charge
Season statistics — 18 games, 15.5 points, 47.8 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 69.0 FT%, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 of a steal, 1.5 blocks
Season-highs — 29 points, 5 3-pointers Nov. 10 vs. Indiana; 11 rebounds twice, last Nov. 24 at Motor City; 6 assists Dec. 20 at Santa Cruz; 3 steals Nov. 30 vs. Grand Rapids, Feb. 2 vs. Osceola; 4 blocks Nov. 14 at Sioux City
Record — 15–19; 11th in East Conference
Next game — 4 p.m. Saturday vs. Birmingham, Tubi
Cormac Ryan, Oklahoma City Blue guard
Age 25 | 6–5, 195 | rookie season | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Season statistics — 23 games, 11.5 points, 42.6 FG%, 40.6 3P%, 40.6 3P%; 97.4 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal
Season-highs — 25 points, 5 3-pointers, 3 steals Nov. 30 at Rio Grande; 7 rebounds twice; 5 assists twice
Record — 21–13; third place in Western Conference
Season opener — 10 p.m. Friday at Santa Cruz, Tubi
Photo via @nbagleague
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