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Six UNC alums scored in double figures on Saturday night, led by 21 from Harrison Barnes and 17 each from Cole Anthony and Reggie Bullock, with Day’Ron Sharpe producing his second NBA double-double. Sharpe collected 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in 27 minutes in Brooklyn’s 115–111 road loss to Miami. Sharpe, who had three assists and a steal, was a team-high +24 as the Nets (29–17) lost their 11th consecutive game and fell to eighth in the Eastern Conference.
CHAPEL HILL — All of the tough games and ugly-looking wins were a distant memory as Carolina played its best game of the season against depleted Florida State. There was so much to love for Tar Heels fans as they led by 40 points in the second half on their way to a Saturday’s 94–74 win in the Smith Center, starting with the return of consistent shooting from Caleb Love.
On a night when Chicago guard Zach LaVine was struggling, Coby White was there to deliver a big game in a Bulls victory on Friday night. White scored 22 points in 29 minutes and ignited a 15–2 fourth-quarter run for a 134–122 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves and back-to-back wins. His 3-pointer during that run gave Chicago the lead for good.
When Cam Johnson slipped past a Jrue Holliday for an impressive one-handed slam to give Phoenix a 20-point lead over the Milwaukee Bucks, it was an exclamation point on a small bit of revenge for the Suns. After losing to the Bucks in the NBA Finals last season, the 131–107 Phoenix win before a sellout crowd was as big as a regular-season victory can be for the Suns. They have the NBA’s best record at 45–10, by a 4½-game margin over Golden State.
While life on the NCAA tournament bubble is an annual routine for Syracuse, North Carolina rarely faces pressure to win in February just to make the field. In 2010 and 2020, the Tar Heels weren’t even playing well enough to ascend to the bubble. They had to settle for the NIT in 2010, one year after winning the 2009 NCAA title. It didn’t matter in 2020 because the NCAA tournament got canceled. But, other than those years, UNC hasn’t tasted life on the bubble since 2000, and that turned out pretty well.
With it appearing more likely that Harrison Barnes won’t get traded before the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline, he continues to be on a roll for the Sacramento Kings. One night after scoring 21 points in a 20-point loss to Minnesota, Barnes scored 30 in a 132–119 victory Wednesday over the Timberwolves in his second-best game of the season. In those two games, Barnes made all 12 free-throw attempts and is shooting 82.9% from the line for the season.
Cole Anthony and Harrison Barnes each put together impressive late games on the West Coast on Tuesday night but only Anthony’s effort came in a victory. Anthony collected 23 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and two blocks while battling foul trouble to lead the Orlando Magic to a 113–95 victory at Portland. His 19.1 game score was his 10th this season of at least 19 after doing it only twice during his rookie season.
As Caleb Love’s struggles continued, RJ Davis gave North Carolina just the backcourt boost it needed for 39 minutes. Then Love came through at the end. Love followed up a huge 3-pointer with 36 seconds left with a drive and dish for a Brady Manek layup with 3.1 seconds left. His heroics, and 60.7% second-half shooting, gave the Tar Heels a wild 79–77 bounce-back win at Clemson on Tuesday night.
Is there any doubt that Theo Pinson will thrive as a coach if that’s what he wants to pursue when his playing career ends? Pinson has been a team favorite at every NBA stop even when he hasn’t played much, and that’s been no different this season as a Dallas Maverick. With the New York Knicks last season, he was called the ultimate teammate while playing only 34 minutes over 17 games.
Walker Miller’s amazing season at Monmouth just keeps getting getter. Miller scored a game-high 22 points in Sunday’s 76–63 road victory over Quinnipiac for his fifth game of at least 22 points this season. He added a 3-pointer, six rebounds and two steals.
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