By R.L. Bynum
Armando Bacot’s G League double-double streak ended, but his perimeter shooting assault began on Sunday.
Bacot scored multiple 3-pointers once during his Carolina career (two against Notre Dame on March 5 in his final UNC home game) but fired in four 3-pointers on six attempts in his Memphis Hustle’s 90–85 win at Texas.
That came after he collected 20 points and 10 rebounds on Friday night in the Hustle’s 131–121 home win over the Oklahoma City Blue for his third double-double in three games.
Bacot is averaging 16.1 points and 11.3 rebounds and is shooting 34.7% from 3-point range for Memphis (1–3) after shooting only 20% from the college distance for the Tar Heels (5 of 25).
After missing the first few Oklahoma City Blue games, Cormac Ryan finally made his G League debut on Sunday, contributing five points (on 2 of 10 shooting), three rebounds and two assists in the Blue’s 116–89 loss at Birmingham.
Nassir Little had two solid games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce (2–2), with 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks in Tuesday’s 106–97 home loss to Iowa and 19 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block in Thursday’s 107–100 home win over the Cleveland Charge.
For the Charge (1–3), Pete Nance had four points, three rebounds, five assists and five blocks in that game.
In Harrison Ingram’s best game last week, he scored 18 points and four 3-pointers while pulling down nine rebounds in the Austin Spurs’ 124–109 loss at Rio Grande. In Friday’s 119–96 home win over Texas for Austin (3–2), he had 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sunday, in a 99–92 home loss to Mexico City, he had eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Leaky Black wasn’t active for the Capital City Go-Go’s two games last week.
In the NBA, Coby White had big nights in two of the Chicago Bulls’ three games last week, with heroics in the first one.
White made three free throws in the final seconds Wednesday in New York and had 22 points and four assists as the Bulls pulled out a 124–123 victory. After netting 29 points and six 3-pointers in Friday’s 144–126 loss at Cleveland, he had nine points and four assists Sunday in a 143–107 home loss to Houston.
The Bulls are 5–9 and 11th in the Eastern Conference.
Cameron Johnson had two big games during the Brooklyn Nets’ 0–3 week, capped by his 22 points and three 3-pointers in Sunday’s 114–102 home loss to New York. After getting nine points, four rebounds and three assists in Wednesday’s 139–114 home loss to Boston, he collected 17 points, three 3-pointers, five rebounds and five assists Friday in a 1242–122 loss at New York.
Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe still hasn’t made his season debut as he battles a left hamstring strain.
The Nets are 5–9 and 10th in the Eastern Conference.
Harrison Barnes didn’t put up huge numbers, as San Antonio (6–8) went 1–2 last week. He had 10 points and seven rebounds in Wednesday’s 139–130 home win over Washington, eight points in Friday’s 120–115 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and four points Saturday in a 110–93 loss at Dallas.
Cole Anthony, averaging 4.3 points per game, continued to play sparingly for Orlando (8–6), with six points in 10 minutes of the Magic’s 114–89 Tuesday win vs. Charlotte and two points in five minutes in their 94–90 Wednesday win vs. Indiana. He played four scoreless minutes in Friday’s 98–86 win against Philadelphia.
Walker Kessler missed all four Utah Jazz games last week with bursitis in his right hip.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 24 | 6–2, 185 | 5th season | $12.9 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve point guard/shooting guard
Season statistics — 12 games, 4.3 points, 33.3 FG%, 26.1 3P%, 68.4 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists
114–89 Tuesday NBA Cup win vs. Charlotte — Didn’t start; 10 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -6
94–90 Wednesday win vs. Indiana — Didn’t start; 5 minutes, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, -1
98–86 Friday win vs. Philadelphia — Didn’t start; 4 minutes, 0 points, 0–2FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -8
Next game — 9 p.m. Monday at Phoenix
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 Julian Champaignie
Season statistics — 14 games, 9.2 points, 48.4 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists
139–130 Wednesday win vs. Washington — Started; 30 minutes, 10 points, 2–5 FG, 2–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, +19
120–115 Friday loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers — Started; 27 minutes, 8 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 foul, +14
110–93 Saturday loss at Dallas — Started; 24 minutes, 4 points, 1–6 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, -25
Next game — 9:30 Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City, TNT
Harrison Ingram, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 21 | 6–7, 230 | rookie season | $578,577 salary (2-way contract) | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
NBA season statistics — 1 game, 7 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul
G League season statistics — 5 games, 14.8 points, 42.8 FG%, 32.4 3P%, 62.5 FT%, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals
124–109 Tuesday loss for Austin Spurs at Rio Grande — Started; 36 minutes, 18 points, 7–11 FG, 4–8 3FG, 0–1 FT, 9 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 steals, -5
119–96 Friday win for Austin Spurs vs. Texas — Started; 11 points, 4–13 FG, 1–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, +12
99–92 Sunday loss for Austin Spurs vs. Mexico City — Started; 8 points, 3–11 FG, 2–8 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +2
Next Austin Spurs game — 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Mexico City, ESPN+
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 Jalen Wilson
Season statistics — 14 games, 16.9 points, 47.0 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 90.7 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists
139–114 Wednesday loss vs. Boston — Started; 26 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 1–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -20
124–122 Friday loss at New York — Started; 36 minutes, 17 points, 3–10 FG, 1–5 3FG, 10–10 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +4
114–102 Sunday loss at New York — Started; 31 minutes, 22 points, 7–11 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 foul, +4
Next game — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Charlotte, FSSN Southeast
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 John Collins
Season statistics — 8 games, 9.5 points, 68.1 FG%, 57.1 FT%, 11.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 3.0 blocks
Missed all four games last week with bursitis in right hip
Next game — 9 p.m. Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers
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 — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Hasn’t played because of a left hamstring strain
Next game — 7:30 Tuesday vs. Charlotte, FSSN Southeast
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 24 | 6–5, 195 | 6th season | $12 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard
Season statistics — 14 games, 19.5 points, 44.1 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 88.5 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals
124–123 Wednesday win at New York — Started; 36 minutes, 22 points, 6–16 FG, 2–9 3FG, 8–8 FT, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, -8
144–126 Friday loss at Cleveland — Started; 30 minutes, 29 points, 8–15 FG, 6–11 3FG, 7–7 FT, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 3 fouls, -11
143–107 Sunday loss vs. Houston — Started; 25 minutes, 9 points, 3–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -17
Next game — 7:30 Wednesday at Milwaukee, ESPN
Tar Heels in G League
Armando Bacot, Memphis Hustle center
Age 24 | 6–11, 240 | rookie season | UNC 2019–24 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 4 games, 16.5 points, 45.1 FG%, 34.7 3P%, 58.3 FT%, 11.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists
132–121 Friday loss vs. Oklahoma City Blue — Started; 20 points, 6–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–5 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers, -8
90–85 Sunday win at Texas — Didn’t start; 14 points, 5–10 FG, 4–6 3FG, 0–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 block, -5
Next game — 11:30 a.m. Wednesday vs. Osceola, ESPN+
Leaky Black, Capital City Go-Go guard
Age 25 | 6–6, 209 | 2nd season | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 2 games, 10.5 points, 54.4 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 2–2 FT, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists
107–98 Sunday win vs. Greensboro — 14 points, 4–6 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 3 blocks, =/-of 0
120–115 Saturday win vs. Long Island and 131–113 Sunday win vs. Raptors 905 — Didn’t play
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Raptors 905
Nassir Little, Sioux Falls Skyforce forward
Age 24 | 6–6, 220 | 6th season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Season statistic — 3 games, 13.7 points, 40.5 FG%, 14.3 3P%, 77.8 FT%, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steal, 1.0 block
106–97 Tuesday loss vs. Iowa — Started; 31 minutes, 13 points, 5–11 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 1 steal, 2 blocks, -11
107–100 Thursday win vs. Cleveland Charge — Started; 19 points, 7–14 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–5 FT, 10 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 1 block, +8
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wisconsin
Sterling Manley, Rip City Remix center
Age 25 | 6–11, 250 | Rookie season | UNC 2017–21 (3 season2)
Season statistics — 2 games, 10.0 points, 66.7 FG%, 75 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 1.0 block
137–121 Sunday, Nov. 10, loss at San Diego — Didn’t start; 21 minutes, 10 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 block, -10
Next game — 9 p.m. Monday at Salt Lake City Stars
Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge center
Age 24 | 6–10, 225 | 2nd season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Season statistics — 3 games, 16.7 points, 42.5 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 71.4 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 of a steal, 3.0 blocks
107–100 Thursday loss at Sioux Falls — Started; 4 points, 2–14 FG, 0–7 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 fouls, 3 turnovers, 5 blocks, -4
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday at Sioux Falls
Cormac Ryan, Oklahoma Blue guard
Age 25 | 6–5, 195 | rookie season | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 11.5 points, 38.2 FG%, 35.4 3P%, 87.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Final NBA preseason statistics (Thunder) — 2 games, 30 minutes, 15 points, 3–11 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul
132–121 Friday win at Memphis — Didn’t play
116–89 Sunday loss at Birmingham — (G League debut) 5 points, 2–10 FG, 1–6 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -26
Season opener — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Texas, ESPN+
Photo via @MemphisHustle
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