Tar Heels in NBA: White, who scores 4,000th point, shakes shooting slump with 26 points, 6 3s; Barnes hits 17 in 2-OT Kings win

By R.L. Bynum

Coby White shook off a shooting slump with a big night at Madison Square Garden on a week when he eclipsed 4,000 career points.

White had 26 points, eight assists and four rebounds for a 20.4 game score on Wednesday night in Chicago’s 116–100 loss at New York in a game that ABC televised. That came two nights after scoring 14 points and passing 4,000 career points when he missed all five 3-point attempts in a 110–97 loss at Philadelphia.

White made 6 of 9 3-point attempts against the Knicks after going 3 for 31 from outside the arc in the previous five games. In December, he broke the Chicago franchise record by scoring at least three 3-pointers in 14 consecutive games.

In the middle of a four-game road trip, the Bulls have played without center Nikola Vučević (left groin strain) for the last five games and have been without Zach LaVine (foot injury) since late November.

“It is a tough schedule,” White told nba.com after Wednesday’s game, when the Bulls principally played a small lineup. “But in that fourth, I feel like we did not make enough winning plays that we have been normally making; we didn’t make enough shots.

“We were down a couple of guys, and that’s going to happen,” White said. “But good teams figure out a way to win. So we’ve got to figure out ways to win and win those types of games. Right now this is the hand we’re dealt. So we’ve got to come up with ways to make those plays down the stretch and not let fatigue come into play.”

Chicago (15–21) hosts Charlotte at 8 p.m. Friday (Bally Sports Southeast).


Cameron Johnson and Day’Ron Sharpe put some good games together, but Brooklyn (15–19) lost the last three games of a four-game road trip.

In Sunday’s 124–108 loss at Oklahoma City, Johnson collected 13 points, two 3-pointers and six rebounds, while Sharpe had three points and two rebounds.

In Tuesday’s 112–85 loss at New Orleans, Johnson put up 17 points, five 3-pointers and five rebounds, while Sharpe had 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Johnson’s best game this week was Wednesday’s 112–101 loss at Houston when he had 15 points, three 3-pointers, six rebounds and five assists for a 13.5 game score. Sharpe had a double-double, his sixth of the season, with 11 points and 12 rebounds.


Orlando’s Cole Anthony is another UNC alum going through a tough road trip. The Magic (19–15) has lost the first three games of the four-game trip, and Anthony missed Wednesday’s 138–135 double-overtime loss to Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento Kings with a right quad contusion.

In the first game of the trip, a 112–107 Sunday loss at Phoenix, Anthony had 13 points, two 3-pointers and five rebounds. Tuesday, in a 121–115 loss at Golden State, Anthony had eight points, four rebounds and two assists.


Barnes scored 17 points and four 3-pointers with three rebounds in that double-overtime Wednesday win over the Magic, and played good defense after regulation on former Duke star Paolo Banchero.

In Sacramento’s 123–92 Sunday win at Memphis to finish a four-game road trip, Barnes contributed 11 points, two 3-pointers and two rebounds. In Tuesday’s 111–104 home loss to Charlotte, Barnes had three points in 24 minutes.


Walker Kessler produced his sixth double-double of the season with 11 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and was +37 with a 13.4 game score in Utah’s 127–90 Monday home win over Dallas.

He followed that up with eight points, eight rebounds and six blocks in Tuesday’s 154–148 overtime home win over Detroit. Kessler has 10 games with at least four blocks.


Reggie Bullock played a season-high 14 minutes in Houston’s 136–113 Monday home win over Detroit. He scored a season-high seven points and had two rebounds and two assists. In Wednesday’s home win over Brooklyn, he played eight scoreless minutes.



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After missing Phoenix’s 112–107 Sunday win over Orlando with left knee soreness, Nassir Little didn’t play (coach’s decision) in the Suns’ 109–88 Monday win over Portland, then missed Wednesday’s 131–122 to the Los Angeles Clippers with left knee soreness.


In the G League, Leaky Black, after missing a couple of games due to sickness, had eight points, three rebounds and two assists in Greensboro’s 127–109 Tuesday loss at Motor City.


Pete Nance had seven points, six rebounds and two steals in the Cleveland Charge’s 126–113 Tuesday home loss to the Salt Lake City Stars.

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

Roster situation — Third-string point guard behind Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins
Season statistics 35 games, 6.7 points, 42.4 FG%, 30.6 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Team record: 19–29, 12th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 131–115 win vs. Chicago 12:14, 4 points, 2–4 FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +12
Next game 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. New Orleans


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 49 games, 10.5 points, 43.7 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 85.9 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 33–16, 2nd in Western Conference
Wednesday: 111–99 win at Houston —Started; 28:46, 9 points, 4–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 foul, +1
Saturday: 111–106 loss at Charlotte —Didn’t start; 24:48, 11 points, 3–6 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +4
Sunday: 111–106 loss at Charlotte —Started; 7 points, 2–5 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +10
Next game 9:30 Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City, ESPN


Roster situation — Third-string center behind Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson
Season statistics — 38 games, 4.0 points, 55.7 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Team record: 13–38, 15th in Eastern Conference
Last 10-day contract expires; could return to Pacers after trade deadline


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 28 games, 11.7 points, 46.1 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 81.0 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 33–18, 3rd in Western Conference
Out for at least a month with a bone bruise and hyperextended right knee


Roster situation Backup point guard behind Deni Avdija/fourth-string 2 guard
Season statistics — 43 games, 11.1 points, 39.1 FG%, 32.1 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 23–28, 10th in Western Conference
Tuesday: 130–125 loss vs. Phoenix Didn’t start; 8:20, 0 points, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 turnover, -2
Next game 10 p.m. Friday vs. Memphis


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 — 18 games, 4.3 points, 58.2 FG%, 48.3 3P%, 2.0 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist
Team record: 19–29, 12th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 131–115 win vs. Chicago 27:14, season-high 15 points, 6–8 FG, 3–5 3FG, season-high 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, +19
Next game 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. New Orleans


Roster situation Starting shooting guard
Season statistics 38 games, 6.1 points, 44.2 FG%, 30.8 3FG%, 91.3 FT%, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 13–36, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 125–109 loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers Didn’t start; 3:42, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -6
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday at Orlando


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 47 games, 8.2 points, 61.0 FG%, 22.6 3P%, 68.0 FT%, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 13–36, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 125–109 loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers Didn’t start; 25:43, 19 points, 9–12 FG,1–1 FT, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnovers, 4 fouls, +14; third double-double of season
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday at Orlando


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 — 29 games, 18.6 points, 43.8 FG%, 34.6 3PFG, 80.5 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Team record: 24–27, 10th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 131–115 loss at Milwaukee Started; 30:20, 21 points, 7–17 FG, 2–8 3FG, 5–7 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -15
Next game 7:30 Thursday at Toronto, Prime Video


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 statistics — 29 games, 10.8 points, 46.4 FG%, 36.2 3P%, 68.0 FT%, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.0 steals
Friday: 124–99 loss vs. Wisconsin Herd Started; 31 minutes, 6 points, 2–7 FG, 2–4 3FG, 9 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 1 turnover, -18
Saturday: 110–98 win vs. Wisconsin Herd Started; 38 minutes, 9 points, 4–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 10 rebounds, 4 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, +16
Next game 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. South Bay Lakers, ESPN+


Season statistics — 26 games, 5.3 points, 44.3 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 68.4 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.4 of a block
Wednesday: 115–97 win vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce, Friday: 124–111 loss at Noblesville Boom and Sunday: 125–109 loss at Noblesville Boom Inactive for all three games
Next game 7 p.m. Saturday at Capital City Go-Go


Season statistics — 29 games, 19.3 points, 44.6 FG%, 40.9 3P%, 87.3 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Monday: 137–133 loss at Osceola Magic Started; 31 minutes, 17 points, 6–15 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, 5 turnovers, -6
Next game 7 p.m. Wednesday at Capital City Go-Go, ESPN+


Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 21 games, 14.6 points, 47.4 FG%, 29.6 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 11.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Thursday: 119–115 loss vs. Stockton Kings Started; 30 minutes, 15 points, 5–14 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–5 FT, 9 rebounds, 1 turnover, -5
Next game 11:30 a.m. Wednesday vs. Texas Legends


Season statistics — 23 games, 19.1 points, 49.1 FG%, 40.7 3P%, 90.7 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals
Friday: 124–99 win at Capital City Go-Go Started; 31 minutes, 22 points, 9–15 FG, 4–8 3FG, 0–1 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +11
Saturday: 110–98 loss at Capital City Go-Go Started; 31 minutes, 16 points, 6–17 FG, 4–11 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 1 turnover, -2
Next game 11 a.m. Thursday at Delaware Blue Coats


Photo via @chicagobulls

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