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The Chicago Bulls are noticing a more seasoned, mature Coby White off the court, and he showed that it’s translating to the court in his preseason debut. White, Cole Anthony and Harrison Barnes got their exhibition seasons off to a good start, as every NBA team has played at least one preseason game.
NBA camps opened this week with Harrison Barnes returning to Sacramento — where there are heightened expectations — Danny Green back at Philadelphia, Cameron Johnson injured, Cole Anthony talking about Orlando’s “path to greatness,” and Nassir Little and Reggie Bullock settling in with new teams.
Reggie Bullock will reportedly keep his game in Texas. Three days after the San Antonio Spurs bought out the 32-year-old guard’s contract, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that, according to sources, Bullock will sign with the Houston Rockets after clearing waivers.
With NBA camps about to open next week, Reggie Bullock suddenly is a free agent. His combination of perimeter shooting and tough defense from the 6–6 wing should draw plenty of attention.
The long-awaiting Portland Trail Blazers trade of Damian Lillard has finally happened as part of a reported three-team megadeal that will send former North Carolina forward Nassir Little to the Phoenix Suns.
Cameron Johnson is off to an excellent start playing for the United States basketball team that is preparing for the World Cup. Johnson came off the bench to share team-high scoring honors with 15 points in his debut in a USA uniform, a 117–74 victory over Puerto Rico on Monday night in Las Vegas in an exhibition game.
After playing for the Charlotte Hornets’ Summer League team, Leaky Black’s reported two-way contract with the team became official on Wednesday.
Pete Nance won a championship, but Brady Manek was the most productive of the four UNC alums who played in the NBA Summer League. Meanwhile, Leaky Black got few chances to show what he could do, and Garrison Brooks had some solid games.
It was a rough night for Harrison Barnes and Cameron Johnson as they both scored 17 points but their teams lost Game 3s in their NBA first-round series Thursday. It was particularly frustrating for Johnson, whose Brooklyn Nets made a game of it but missed chances to win it or tie it at the end as Philadelphia took a 3–0 series lead with a 102–97 victory in Brooklyn.
Relentless, red-hot and fearless. Cameron Johnson was all that for Brooklyn on Monday night for one half, but, again, it wasn’t enough. Harrison Barnes again was a steady force as Sacramento took a 2–0 lead on Golden State. Johnson scored 22 points and had Joel Embiid flailing with a one-handed dunk in his face, followed by a stare-down of the 7-footer, in the first half. He added only six points in the second half, though, as the Philadelphia 76ers took a 2–0 series lead with a 96–84 victory over the Nets on Monday night.
In a festive, college-type atmosphere in Sacramento, Harrison Barnes scored 13 points and a big late 3-pointer as the Kings won their first playoff game in 17 years. Cameron Johnson’s best career playoff game wasn’t enough for his Brooklyn Nets. Against the Golden State Warriors, where Barnes began his NBA career and won a league title in 2015, the Kings pulled out a 126–123 victory in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series in a highly entertaining game.
Where was Coby White with the game on the line at the end? That’s what many on social media wanted to know after his 3-pointer with 3:47 left (shown below) gave the Chicago Bulls a three-point lead. The Miami Heat outscored Chicago 15–1 the rest of the way, going on to a 102–91 victory in a play-in tournament elimination game to end the Bulls’ season.
Coby White scored all nine of his points in the second quarter as the Chicago Bulls became the first No. 10 seed to win a play-in tournament, rallying from a 19-point second-half deficit to win 109–105 Wednesday night in Toronto. The other four UNC alums in the postseason play their playoff openers on Saturday.
Theo Pinson’s career-best triple-double performance was the highlight as the NBA finished its regular season, and only five UNC alums will play in the postseason. Heading to the Eastern Conference play-in tournament are Coby White’s Chicago Bulls. Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento Kings, Cameron Johnson, Day’Ron Sharpe and the Brooklyn Nets, and Danny Green’s Cleveland Cavaliers all secured spots in first-round playoff series.
With the Dallas Mavericks resting all their regulars in their last game of the season, Theo Pinson got his first career start and took full advantage of the opportunity. Pinson produced his first career triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in 40 minutes, all career-highs, in the Mavericks’ 138–117 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Pinson, who also had a steal, is the only active Tar Heel with an NBA triple-double and the first to achieve one since Ty Lawson did it for Sacramento on April 11, 2017.
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