Tar Heels in NBA: Wayne Ellington stays hot, scorches 76ers again

Of all the former Tar Heels in the NBA, it’s veteran sharpshooter Wayne Ellington that’s having the most impressive month of January.

Detroit Pistons shooting guard Wayne Ellington continued his hot-shooting streak on Monday night when he scored 20 points in a 119-104 victory over the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers.

Ellington hit 7-of-10 shots for the game, and 6-of-9 from three-point range. It was the fifth consecutive game in which the former Tar Heel connected on at least four of his attempts from long-range, a stretch that’s seen him hit 27-of-45 (60 percent) from beyond the arc, and score 20, 17, 18, 16 and 24 for the last-place Pistons. His 27 triples also break a franchise record for three-pointers made in a five-game span, passing former Pistons guard Chucky Atkins.

Ellington is the hottest shooter in the league right now, and that’s despite playing in only one December game and logging 25 minutes just once in his first six appearances of the season. Now, however, it’s Ellington that’s getting the start in the Detroit back court every single game. And why wouldn’t he be after shooting lights out for the better part of a month?

The former first round draft pick and 2009 NCAA champion is now averaging 12.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, while hitting better than 53 percent of his shots from the floor and nearly 52 percent from long-range. He’s also averaging less than a turnover per game despite logging 23.2 minutes per contest — the most he’s played since the 2018-19 season.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the outstanding season of one Wayne Ellington, as well as former Tar Heels throughout the NBA and around the globe.