Tar Heels in pros; Love on a roll with Blazers; White subject of trade rumors ahead of Thursday deadline

By R.L. Bynum

Caleb Love keeps stacking good games in his rookie season in Portland, including one of his most efficient nights of the season on Sunday.

His former backcourt teammate at UNC, RJ Davis, had a huge week in the G League with 30 points and a triple-double on Thursday and a career-high 45 points on Saturday. Read more about those games here and here.

In the Trail Blazers’ 130–111 loss to Cleveland in their first game after a three-game East Coast road trip, Love scored 21 points and three 3-pointers, shooting 53.3% from the floor and 37.5% from outside the arc, while adding three assists, two rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes.

That was Love’s third time with least 20 points in the last eight games and has eight such games this season.

He’s averaging 11.4 points per game while shooting 39.8% from the floor and 32.3% from 3-point range.

With Coby White the subject of trade rumors ahead of the 3 p.m. Thursday trade deadline, he missed all six 3-point attempts Sunday while scoring 16 points in the Chicago Bulls’ 134–91 loss at Miami.

White, who sat out Saturday’s 125–118 win at Miami for injury management with his right calf issue, scored 14 points in the Bulls’ other two games, both losses.

The Athletic reported, according to one source, the Bulls want a first-round draft pick in a White deal and have had trouble pulling that off because his contract expires at the end of the season. On Saturday, Chicago acquired Dario Šarić and two second-round picks on Saturday in a three-team trade with Sacramento and Cleveland.


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Harrison Barnes continues to struggle to produce offense, and came off the bench for the first time this season in one of San Antonio’s three games. The Spurs went 1–2 on the week, with Barnes combining for 27 points. His 11 points in Saturday’s 111–106 loss at Charlotte was only his second double-figure scoring game in the last 11 games.

Barnes’ 9.2 scoring average is lower than his career-low of 9.5 last season.

Brooklyn went 1–3 on a road trip last week. Drake Powell started one game and combined for 21 points in the four games, topped by 12 points and three rebounds in Sunday’s 130–77 loss at Detroit. Day’Ron Sharpe had 16 points and nine rebounds in Friday’s 109–99 win at Utah, then had eight points and 11 rebounds on Sunday.

Cormac Ryan stayed on a roll in the G League. He had 22 points, four 3-pointers and eight rebounds in Friday’s 124–99 win over the Capital City Go-Go and 16 points and four 3-pointers in Saturday’s 110–98 loss to the Go-Go.

Elsewhere among former UNC players in the last week:
— Harrison Ingram had 15 points and nine rebounds in Thursday’s 119–115 win for his Austin Spurs over the Stockton Kings, and nine points and 12 rebounds in Tuesday’s 116–107 road win over the Valley Suns.
— Cole Anthony combined for 17 points in three Milwaukee games, topped by 10 points in Tuesday’s 139–122 loss at Philadelphia.
— Pete Nance collected 13 points and six rebounds in the Bucks’ 109–99 Thursday loss at Washington and combined for nine points in the other two games.
— Tony Bradley’s 10-day contract with Indiana expired, and he hasn’t re-signed, but could rejoin the Pacers after the trade deadline.
— Leaky Black combined for 15 points and 19 rebounds in two games, just missing a double-double in the Capital City Go-Go’s 110–98 Saturday win over the Wisconsin Herd with nine points and 10 rebounds.
— Garrison Brooks wasn’t active for any of the Birmingham Squadron’s three games last week.

Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 33 | 6–7, 225 | 14th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

Roster situation Reserve
Final regular-season statistics 77 games, 9.9 points, 45.6 FG%, 38.8 3P%, 82.9 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Team record: 62–20, 2nd in Western Conference
Monday: 115–102 win vs. Philadelphia — Didn’t start; 17:08, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, +4
Wednesday: 112–101 win vs. Portland — Didn’t start; 26:47, 9 points, 2–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5–6 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +13
Friday: 139–120 win vs. Dallas — Didn’t start; 28:08, 15 points, 6–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, +13
Sunday: 128–119 loss vs. Denver — Didn’t start; 25:09, 12 points, 5–11 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, -5
Next game First round Game 1 as No. 2 seed in the West: 9 p.m. Sunday vs. the No. 7 seed (the winner of the 10 p.m. Tuesday play-in game between Phoenix and Portland), NBC, Peacock


Final regular-season G League statistics — 38 games, 10.3 points, 45.6 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 15 games, 7.1 points, 38.8 FG%, 34.5 3FG%, 87.5 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals
Team record: 17–65, 14th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 129–98 loss vs. Chicago Started; 23:57, 3 points, 1–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 5 fouls, team-low -31
Thursday: 119–108 loss vs. Chicago Started; 40:51, 14 points, 6–14 FG, 2–8 3FG, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -12
Friday: 140–117 loss vs. Miami Started; 31:43, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 2–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, 5 fouls, -11
Sunday: 130–117 loss at Cleveland Didn’t start; 9:22, 0–3 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, -3
The Wizards didn’t qualify for the postseason


Final regular-season statistics — 41 games, 4.0 points, 54.7 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Team record: 46–36, 6th in Eastern Conference
Monday: 108–105 loss vs. New York 3:34, 0–2 FG, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -2
Wednesday: 122–116 loss at Cleveland Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Friday: 124–102 win vs. Cleveland 9:04, 7 points, 3–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, -14
Sunday: 143–117 loss at Miami Started; 4 points, 2–6 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, -18
Next game First round, Game 1: 6 p.m. Saturday at New York, Prime Video


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.
Final regular-season statistics 54 games, 12.2 points, 48.0 FG%, 43.0 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 54–28, 3rd in Western Conference
Monday: 137–132 win vs. Portland Started; 36:40, 17 points, 6–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–5 FT, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls, team-high +25
Wednesday: 136–119 win vs. Memphis Started; 29:43, 18 points, 8–12 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +7
Friday: 127–107 win vs. Oklahoma City and Sunday: 128118 win at San Antonio Didn’t play (ankle injury)
Next game First round, Game 1 as No. 3 seed in the West: 3:30 Saturday vs. No. 6 Minnesota, Prime Video


Final 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
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 47 games, 5.4 points, 51.5 FG%, 42.0 3P%, 36.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Team record: 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 96–90 loss at Brooklyn Started; 26:25, 8 points, 3–8 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, team-low -13
Wednesday: 137–111 loss at Detroit Didn’t start; 18:00, 0–4 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, team-low -21
Friday: 125–108 win vs. Brooklyn and Sunday: 126–106 loss at Philadelphia Didn’t play (right knee sprain)
The Bucks didn’t qualify for the postseason.


Roster situation Starting shooting guard
Final regular-season NBA statistics 63 games, 6.5 points, 40.2 FG%, 28.0 3FG%, 89.6 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Final regular-season G League statistics 5 games, 11.8 points, 44.2 FG%, 36.4 3FG%, 72.7 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals
Team record: 20–62, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 96–90 win vs. Milwaukee Started; 40:27, 11 points, 4–16 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -2
Thursday: 123–94 loss vs. Indiana Didn’t start; 20:04, 2 points, 1–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -17
Friday: 125–108 loss at Milwaukee Didn’t play (injury/illness)
Sunday: 125–108 loss at Milwaukee Started; 25:15, 8 points, 3–10 FG, 0–4 3G, 2–2FT, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, team-low -32
The Nets didn’t qualify for the postseason.


Final season G League statistics (Wisconsin Herd) — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
Final regular-season NBA statistics — 11 games, 14.3 points, 52.0 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 92.3 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 96–90 loss at Brooklyn Didn’t start; 33:43, 14 points, 5–12 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1– FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 6 fouls, -5
Wednesday: 137–111 loss at Detroit Didn’t start; 24:31, 16 points, 6–9 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -11
Friday: 125–108 win vs. Brooklyn Started; 33:58, 28 points, 10–17 FG, 5–9 3FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, +21
Sunday: 126–106 loss at Philadelphia Started; 38:15, 22 points, 8–20 FG, 3–12 3FG, 3–3 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -18
The Bucks didn’t qualify for the postseason.


Coby White, Charlotte Hornets forward
Age 26 | 6–4, 195 | 7th season | $12.88 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

Roster situation Backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball
Final regular-season statistics — 50 games, 17.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 36.2 3PFG, 81.7 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Team record: 44–38, 9th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 113–102 loss at Boston Didn’t play (groin injury)
Friday: 118–100 loss vs. Detroit Didn’t start; 16:10, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 2–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, team-low -20
Sunday: 110–96 win at New York Didn’t start; 16:18, 19 points, 6–10 FG, 3–6 3FG, 4–6 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, team-high +18
Next game First round, Play-in Tournament: 7:30 Tuesday vs. Miami, Prime Video (loser eliminated; winner faces loser of the Philadelphia-Orlando game in another elimination game)


Out for season

— Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe (UCL tear in left thumb); season statistics: 62 games, 8.7 points, 60.1 FG%, 23.1 3P%, 67.8 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
— 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


Waived

— Cole Anthony by the Phoenix Suns
— Tony Bradley by the Indiana Pacers


Final regular-season statistics — 49 games, 18.4 points, 46.8 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 86.4 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Final playoffs statistics — 3 games, 14.3 points, 45.2 FG%, 35.3 3P%, 6–6 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists
G League season over.


Final regular-season NBA statistics — 4 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +11
Final regular-season G League statistics — 40 games, 16.6 points, 49.2 FG%, 34.0 3P%, 62.9 FT%, 12.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.2 steals
Friday with Spurs: 139–120 win vs. Dallas — 5:38, -2
G League season is over.


Final regular-season NBA season statistics — 49 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 10.4 points, 38.8 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Final G League regular-season statistics — 10 games, 24.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers
Wednesday with Blazers: 112101 loss at San Antonio 2:12, 1 turnover, -4
Sunday with Blazers: 122110 win vs. Sacramento 1:39, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3G, -4
Next Blazers game First round, Play-in Tournament: 10 p.m. Tuesday at Phoenix, Prime Video (loser eliminated; winner faces San Antonio in first-round series beginning Sunday)


Photo via @trailblazers

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