By R.L. Bynum
Portland Trail Blazers fans got their first taste of the Caleb Love Experience this week, complete with a huge late 3-pointer.
After the rookie guard went 1 of 12 from the floor and missed all seven 3-point attempts in Wednesday’s 122–121 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Love was sensational in Friday’s 127–123 NBA Cup victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Love went 6 of 30 from 3-point range in his first seven games, but was 6 of 13 against the Warriors. He scored a season-high 26 points on 9 of 20 shooting while making both free-throw attempts, tying his season rebounding high with seven and dishing out five assists against only one turnover in 37½ minutes.
The six 3-pointers matched the best total during his five-year college career, which he accomplished five times:
— Feb. 12, 2022, in a 94–74 home win over Florida State
— March 17, 2022, at Fort Worth, Texas, in a 95–63 NCAA first-round victory over Marquette
— March 25, 2022, at Philadelphia in a 73–66 Sweet 16 win over UCLA
— Feb. 11, 2023, in a 91–71 home win over Clemson
— Feb. 26, 2025, in Arizona’s 83–66 home win over Utah
“My job is to be the energy off the bench, on the defensive end be a menace, and disrupt things, and help my guys,” Love said. “And then on the offensive end, just play within the flow of the offense. And my shots are going to come. I put a lot of work in.”
Love sank a 3-pointer from the left wing with 29 seconds left to expand Portland’s lead to five. Stephen Curry responded with a step-back 3-pointer seven seconds later, but the Blazers held on for the victory.
“I was super confident,” Love said of when he put up that shot. “I put so much work in. I’ve been in those situations before in my career. My teammates trusted me, and I hit the shot.”
A reporter asked Love if he was ever afraid to shoot.
“No, never; I put too much work in,” he replied.
Love hasn’t played in a G League game, but is currently on a two-way contract that limits him to 45 days in the NBA.
Love said the Blazers needed the win, which moved them to 7–9, snapping a four-game losing streak and ending a stretch of six losses in seven games.
“We had a bad stretch of games; it just feels great to be back in that win column, and we just got to keep it going,” he said.
The Chicago Bulls have Coby White on a pattern of playing every other game so that they don’t overwork him after he missed significant time with a right calf strain.
After collecting 25 points, five 3-pointers, seven assists and two steals in the Bulls’ 122–121 victory over the Blazers on Wednesday, he sat out Friday’s 143–107 NBA Cup loss at home to the Miami Heat.
In the G League, Harrison Ingram had a double-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals in his Austin Spurs’ 134–120 win Wednesday over the Osceola Magic. Against Osceola on Thursday, he had nine points and 10 rebounds.
With Bronny James in the South Bay Lakers’ starting lineup on Friday, RJ Davis came off the bench in their 115–95 home win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. Davis collected eight points, five assists and was a team-high +25.
Pete Nance had 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists in his Wisconsin Herd’s 135–121 loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Friday.
Read about early-week NBA games here. In other action since Tuesday:
—San Antonio’s Harrison Barnes collected 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists in the Spurs’ 135–126 Thursday win over Atlanta, following up a 20-point game Sunday and a 23-point game on Tuesday for the 11–4 Spurs, who have won three in a row.
—Cameron Johnson scored 14 points in Denver’s 125–118 Wednesday win over New Orleans and nine points with five rebounds in Friday’s 112–109 NBA Cup win over Houston.
—In Brooklyn’s 113–105 NBA Cup win Friday over Boston, Drake Powell had nine points, two rebounds and two steals while Day’Ron Sharpe contributed four points and four rebounds.
—Milwaukee’s Cole Anthony had five points, seven assists and four rebounds in the Bucks’ 123–114 overtime loss Thursday to Philadelphia. He’s combined for nine points in his last three games.
—Tony Bradley had two points in just over four minutes of Indiana’s 120–109 Friday loss to Cleveland.
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 — 28 games, 6.4 points, 42.6 FG%, 28.5 3P%, 54.1 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists
Team record: 17–22, 11th in Eastern Conference
Sunday: (at) Nuggets 108, Bucks 104 — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Tuesday: Timberwolves 139, Bucks 106 — 9:11, 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, +1
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday at San Antonio
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 — 39 games, 11.4 points, 44.1 FG%, 37.3 3P%, 86.8 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Team record: 26–13, 2nd in Western Conference
Sunday: (at) Timberwolves 104, Spurs 103 — Started; 32:11, 13 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +7
Tuesday: (at) Thunder 119, Spurs 98 — Started; 23:40, 2 points, 1–7 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 fouls, -1
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs Milwaukee
Tony Bradley, Indiana Pacers center
Age 27 | 6–10, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
Roster situation — Third-string center behind Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson
Season statistics — 31 games, 4.0 points, 55.8 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 73.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds
Team record: 8–31, 15th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: Cavaliers 120, Pacers 116 — 11:42, 0–2 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -9
Thursday: Pacers 114, (at) Hornets 112 — 15:00, 7 points, 3–3 FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 foul, +7
Saturday: Pacers 123, Heat 99 — 4:20, 3 points, 0–3 FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, -4
Monday: Pacers 123, Heat 99 — 5:41, -1
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Toronto
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: 26–13, 3rd in Western Conference
Out for at least a month with a bone bruise and hyperextended right knee
Caleb Love, Portland Trail Blazers guard
Age 24 | 6–3, 212 | Rookie season | Two-way contract | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup point guard behind Deni Avdija/fourth-string 2 guard
Season statistics — 32 games, 10.7 points, 39.1 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 19–22, 9th in Western Conference
Friday: Blazers 103, Rockets 102 — Didn’t start; 24:35, 18 points, 6–13 FG, 4–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, -7
Sunday: Knicks 123, Blazers 114 — Didn’t start; 28:39, 21 points, 8–18 FG, 5–12 3FG, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -11
Tuesday: (at) Warriors 119, Blazers 97 — Started (Avdija out with lower back soreness; Love’s 1st career start); 33:55, 17 points, 5–16 FG, 2–9 3FG, 5–8 FT, 3 rebounds, career-high 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, -14
Next game — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Atlanta
Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 20 | 6–5, 195 | Rookie season | 4-year NBA rookie contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup 2 guard behind Terance Mann
Season statistics — 27 games, 6.0 points, 46.0 FG%, 30.5 3FG%, 90.3 FT%, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 11–26, 13th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: Magic 104, Nets 103 — Didn’t start; 18:42, 2 points, 1–6 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -11
Friday: Clippers 121, Nets 105 — Didn’t start; 14:34, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block -7
Sunday: (at) Grizzlies 103, Nets 98 — Didn’t play; management of left knee injury
Monday: (at) Mavericks 113, Nets 105 — Started (2nd start of the season); 10 points, 5–10 FG, 0–4 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers, -7
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday at New Orleans
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 — 36 games, 7.7 points, 59.7 FG%, 21.4 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 11–26, 13th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: Magic 104, Nets 103 — Didn’t start; 18:42, 2 points, 1–6 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -11
Friday: Clippers 121, Nets 105 — Didn’t start; 17:03, 6 points, 3–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -1
Sunday: (at) Grizzlies 103, Nets 98 — Didn’t start; 20:33, 8 points, 4–7 FG, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +5
Monday: (at) Mavericks 113, Nets 105 — Didn’t start; 22:42, 14 points, 4–7 FG, 6–6 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, +2
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday at New Orleans
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 — 18 games, 18.6 points, 45.0 FG%, 31.7 3PFG, 80.0 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists
Team record: 18–20, 10th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: Bulls 125, Mavericks 107 — Started; 28:56, 22 points, 9–15 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 3 blocks, +18
Tuesday: (at) Rockets 119, Bulls 113 — Didn’t play; injury management for right calf injury
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Utah
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
Leaky Black, Capital City Go-Go (Wizards) guard
Age 26 | 6–6, 209 | 3rd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 21 games, 10.5 points, 44.7 FG%, 27.4 3P%, 68.0 FT%, 7.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.0 steals
Team record: 5–2, 4th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 6–8, fifth in East Division
Wednesday: Capital City 112, Motor City Cruise 104 — Started; 34 minutes, 9 points, 4–5 FG, 1–2 3FG, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 fouls, 4 steals, 1 turnover, 1 block, =/- of 0
Friday: Capital City 114, Motor City Cruise 106 — Started; 3 points, 1–5 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks, +9
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Long Island Nets, ESPN+
Garrison Brooks, Birmingham Squadron (Pelicans) center
Age 26 | 6–9, 230 | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
Season statistics — 21 games, 5.4 points, 44.9 FG%, 36.7 3P%, 62.5 FT%, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.3 of a block
Team record: 4–8, 13th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 5–7, seventh in South Division
Sunday: Raptors 905 118, Birmingham 73 — 29 minutes, 6 points, 1–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -25
Tuesday: Raptors 905 99, Birmingham 98 — 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -6
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Motor City Cruise, ESPN=
RJ Davis, South Bay Lakers guard
Age 23 | 6–0, 180 | rookie season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2020–25 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 20 games, 16.9 points, 41.4 FG%, 34.8 3P%, 88.5 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 5.` assists, 0.9 of a steal
Team record: 4–3, 5th in Western Conference; finished Showcase Cup 7–7, fifth in West Division
Tuesday: South Bay 113, Memphis Hustle 101 — Started; 36 minutes, 17 points, 3–5 FG, 3–6 3FG, 4–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 fouls, 1 steal, 8 turnovers, +11
Friday: (at) Austin Spurs 111, South Bay 99 — Started; 7 points, 3–13 FG, 1–6 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, -13
Saturday: (at) Austin Spurs 107, South Bay 106 — Started; 33 minutes, 12 points, 4–14 FG, 2–7 3FG, 1–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, +5
Next game — 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. San Diego Clippers, ESPN+
Harrison Ingram, Austin Spurs forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 230 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 13 games, 16.2 points, 51.9 FG%, 31.9 3P%, 63.3 FT%, 11.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 3–4, tied for 11th in Western Conference; finished Showcase Cup 12–2, first in South Division
Friday: (at) Austin Spurs 111, South Bay 99 — Started; 22 points, 10–17 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 foul, +5
Saturday: (at) Austin Spurs 107, South Bay 106 — Started; 38 minutes, 6 points, 1–6 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 fouls, 3 turnovers, 1 block, -4
Next game — 8 p.m. Saturday vs. South Bay Lakers
Pete Nance, Wisconsin Herd center
Age 25 | 6–9, 225 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
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 — 9 games, 32 minutes, 18 points, 7–14 FG, 4–9 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Team record: 4–5, 10th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 4–10, eighth in Central Division
Thursday: (at) Long Island Nets 121, Wisconsin 112 — Started; 17 points, 6–14 FG, 1–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +5
Sunday: Wisconsin 109, (at) Grand Rapids Gold 95 — Started; 34 minutes, 42 points, 16–19 FG, 5–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +14
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Maine Celtics, ESPN+
Cormac Ryan, Wisconsin Herd (Bucks) guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Season statistics — 14 games, 19.6 points, 48.7 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 89.7 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals
Team record: 4–5, 10th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 4–10, eighth in Central Division
Thursday: (at) Long Island Nets 121, Wisconsin 112 — Started; 19 points, 7–17 FG, 2–8 3FG, 2–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 fouls, 4 steals, 1 turnover, -15
Sunday: Wisconsin 109, (at) Grand Rapids Gold 95 — Started; 38 minutes, 24 points, 7–12 FG, 6–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls, 3 steals, 7 turnovers, +9
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Maine Celtics, ESPN+
Photo via YouTube screenshot
tarheeltribune.com 