Leaky Black didn’t need a monster scoring night to make his presence felt for the Sacramento Kings. He just needed a chance.
With De’Andre Hunter sidelined by illness, Black stepped into the starting lineup for the first time this 2026-27 NBA season on Friday night and made it count in Sacramento’s 124-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. In 40 minutes, he finished with 12 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals, giving the Kings a steady two-way lift.
The scoring line was notable, but the way he got there stood out even more. Black took all seven of his shots from beyond the arc and knocked down four of them, continuing to show that his game can stretch beyond the defensive reputation he built over five seasons at UNC.
That’s been Black’s calling card for years. At North Carolina, he carved out a role as one of the Tar Heels’ most dependable defenders, often tasked with chasing the opponent’s top scorer. But when the offense is there, he can deliver there too, and Friday was another reminder.
Black’s night came on the heels of another strong outing just a few days earlier, when he scored 12 points, grabbed four steals and hit four three-pointers in Sacramento’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. Back-to-back performances like that are starting to make his case louder.
For Black, the timing matters. He entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent in 2023, signed with Sacramento on a two-way contract in October, and is still trying to lock down a lasting foothold after previous stops with the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards.
This latest stretch is doing exactly what he needs it to do: put him on the radar. He’s not just filling minutes. He’s giving the Kings something useful every time he’s on the floor.
Whether it leads to more starts once Sacramento is healthier is still to be determined. But Black is making the argument the only way he can - by playing well enough that the decision gets harder.
In Other News...
Tar Heels Face A Quick Gut Check With Duke Suddenly Next
No. 20 Carolina volleyball ran into a buzz saw against No. 2 Pitt, dropping the match in straight sets by scores of 20-25, 14-25 and 19-25. Safi Hampton, Chelsea Thorpe, Bridget Malone, Laynie Smith and Meghan Clifford were among the key Tar Heels trying to steady things, but Pitts level of play left little room for Carolina to settle in.
The timing makes the loss sting a little more, because the schedule does not offer much breathing room. Duke is next, and the Tar Heels will see the Blue Devils twice, on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15, turning this into a quick gut check for a Carolina team that has to reset fast and carry something useful out of a tough night. [Read more 🡒]
UNC May Have Found A Frontcourt Option Wyoming Has To Worry About
North Carolinas lopsided win over Wofford offered a useful glimpse of a bench piece that could become more than a situational option. Alexandros Samodurov gave the Tar Heels a strong lift with 13 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes, showing enough touch and versatility on offense to stand out in a game where the reserves helped tilt the night early.
The bigger question now is how much more Carolina can ask of him, especially with Wyoming on deck. Samodurovs skill set is intriguing, but there are still real questions about whether he can hold up at center against more physical play, which makes his usage worth watching as the schedule tightens and the staff looks for answers in the frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Just Landed A Massive ACC Statement Against Clemson
North Carolina kept its late-season surge rolling with a result that carried real weight in the ACC race, knocking off No. 3 Clemson 3-2 in double overtime to move on to the ACC Championship semifinals. The Tar Heels showed the kind of resilience that has defined their unbeaten stretch, battling through a back-and-forth match that was level 2-2 after regulation before finally finding the breakthrough in the extra period.
Luca Nikolai delivered the decisive penalty in the 106th minute, a finish that capped one of the biggest wins of the season for a team that has now gone 10 matches without a loss. For Clemson, the defeat snapped an 11-match unbeaten run, while North Carolina gets the kind of statement victory that can reshape how the rest of the tournament views it. [Read more 🡒]