Tar Heels in NBA: White hits 27 in OT win, continues on path to become first UNC All-Star in 16 years

R.L. Bynum, ,

By R.L. Bynum

Coby White continues on the likely path to becoming the first Tar Heel to make the NBA All-Star Game in 16 years. That would probably be fine with the Charlotte Hornets, as long as they don’t have to face him again.

Three nights after scoring 22 points on the Hornets in a 13-point Chicago home win, White poured in 27 points as the Bulls overcame Terry Rozier’s 39 points to win 119–112 in overtime at the Spectrum Center on Monday night.

“It’s always fun to come back home and see everybody who supported me throughout my career,” White said.

White could become the first former UNC player to make the NBA All-Star Game since Antawn Jamison and Rasheed Wallace were part of the East team that won the 2008 game in New Orleans 134–128.

Tar Heels in NBA All-Star Game

The recent returns to the Bulls’ lineup of All-Stars Zach LaVine (right foot injury) and Nikola Vucevic (left adductor strain) seemed likely to reduce the number of shots White gets, but it hasn’t happened yet. LaVine has been the subject of trade rumors.

White, who was 10 of 19 from the floor with three 3-pointers, six rebounds and five assists, scored at least 20 points for the 16th time this season after doing it three times last season and 11 times the season before that. He’s one short of his career-high of 17 such games during the 2020–21 season after scoring at least 20 points 13 times during his rookie season.

White produced a 20.4 game score Monday, his eighth of at least 20 this season after doing it three times last season and the season before. He had seven such games in 2020–21 and four during his rookie season.

After the Hornets erased a seven-point deficit in the last 3½ minutes of regulation, the Bulls scored the first eight overtime points to pull away.

Charlotte called Leaky Black back up to the Hornets roster, but he didn’t play (coach’s decision). He collected 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Greensboro Swarm’s 97–84 Saturday win at Wisconsin.

Walker Kessler had 10 points and four rebounds in Utah’s 120–109 Saturday win at Philadelphia. He had eight points, six rebounds and two blocks in Monday’s 132–116 win at Milwaukee.

Cole Anthony and Harrison Barnes both had 10 points in Sunday night home losses.

Anthony added nine rebounds and five assists in Orlando’s 117–110 overtime setback against Atlanta and Barnes added a rebound and a steal in Sacramento’s 133–100 loss to New Orleans.

Ahead of Brooklyn’s 2 p.m. Thursday game in Paris against Cleveland (NBATV), the Nets lost in overtime Sunday at home to Portland 134–127. Day’Ron Sharpe had 11 points and six rebounds, while Cam Johnson contributed nine points, three rebounds and three assists.

Reggie Bullock didn’t play in either Houston’s 112–108 Saturday home win over Milwaukee or Monday’s 120–113 loss at Miami (coach’s decision) after playing in the previous three games.

Nassir Little has missed Phoenix’s last four games with left knee tendinitis.

In the G League, Pete Nance had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, also with four assists and a steal, in the Cleveland Charge’s 116–104 Saturday home victory over Santa Cruz.

In the Texas Legends’ 107–92 Saturday home win over Motor City, Justin Jackson scored 12 points and three 3-pointers, with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Theo Pinson contributed 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block. Tony Bradley was inactive for the game.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 23 | 6–3, 185 | fourth NBA season | $5,539,771 salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

113–88 Sunday win vs. Milwaukee — 17 minutes, 13 points, 5–9 FG, 1–3 3PFG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover 3 fouls, +13
Season statistics — 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Record — Finished 47–35, 5th in Eastern Conference; Next game — Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 5 East seed at No. 4 Cleveland

Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 31 | 6–8, 225 | 12th NBA season | $17,000,000 salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

121–82 Sunday win vs. Portland — Started; 31 minutes, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, +37
Season statistics — 82 games, 12.2 points, 47.4 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Record — Finished 46–36, tied for 9th in Western Conference; Next game — 10 p.m. Tuesday as No. 9 seed in play-in tournament vs. No. 10 Golden State, TNT (loser eliminated)

Leaky Black, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 24 | 6–9, 209 | rookie NBA season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)

120–110 Sunday win at Cleveland — 32 minutes, 11 points, 4–4 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, +22
NBA season statistics — 26 games, 2.7 points, 48.1 FG%, 45.0 3FG%, 66.7 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
G League season statistics — 25 games, 7.1 points, 43.7 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 61.9 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 of a block
Record — Finished 21–61, 13th in Eastern Conference;

Reggie Bullock, Houston Rockets guard
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 11th NBA season | $10,489,600 salary | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

116–106 Sunday loss at Los Angeles Clippers — 6 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, -1
Season statistics — 44 games, 2.2 points, 41.5 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 1–1 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Record — Finished 41–41, 11th in Western Conference

Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fifth NBA season | $25,679,348 salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia — Didn’t play (left big toe sprain); missed last two games
Season statistics — 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Record — Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 22 | 7–0, 245 | second NBA season | $2,831,160 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

123–116 Sunday loss at Golden State — Didn’t play (nasal fracture); missed last six games
Season statistics — 64 games, 8.1 points, 65.5 FG%, 21.1 3P%, 60.2 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.4 blocks
Record — Finished 31–51, 12th in Western Conference

Nassir Little, Phoenix Sun wing
Age 23 | 6–4, 220 | fifth NBA season | $6,250,060 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

125–106 Sunday win at Minnesota — 5 minutes, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, -5
Season statistics — 45 games, 3.4 points, 46.0 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Record — Finished 49–33, 6th in Western Conference; Next game — Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 6 seed at No. 3 Minnesota

Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | third NBA season | $2,210,040 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia — Didn’t play (wrist injury); missed three of last six games
Season statistics — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Record — Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference

Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–5, 195 | fifth NBA season | $11,111,111 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

120–119 Sunday overtime loss at New York — Started; 43 minutes, 26 points, 12–18 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +1
Season statistics — 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Record — Finished 39–43, 9th in Eastern Conference; Next game — 9:30 Wednesday as No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 Atlanta in play-in tournament, ESPN (loser eliminated)

In G League

Tony Bradley, Texas Legends center
Age 25 | 6–11, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)

Season statistics — 17 games, 14.1 points, 67.1 FG%, 71.9 FT%, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 block
Record — Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup

Justin Jackson, Texas Legends guard
Age 28 | 6–8, 220 | seventh pro season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)

Season G League statistics — 44 games, 19.9 points, 46.4 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.7 of a steal, 0.5 of a block
Season NBA statistics (with Minnesota) — 2 games, 1 minute, 0 points
Record — Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup

Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge
Age 23 | 6–10, 225 | rookie pro season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)

G League season statistics — 42 games; 13.2 points, 46.8 FG%, 35.8 3FG%, 74.5 FT%, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 of a steal, 1.5 blocks
Season NBA season statistics (with Cleveland) — 8 games, 27 minutes, 3 points, 1–6 FG, 1–1 3FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 2 fouls
Record — Finished 15–7, 11th in Eastern Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup

Theo Pinson, Texas Legends guard
Age 27 | 6–7, 212 | sixth pro season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)

Season statistics — 46 games, 14.8 points, 42.6 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 82.2 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 of a block
Record — Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup

Photo via @chicagobulls

Published by R.L. Bynum