Tar Heels in pros: Jackson pours in 36 with 7 3-pointers in G League shooting show; Barnes scores 14, draws first technical in 10 years

By R.L. Bynum

Justin Jackson would obviously prefer to still be on an NBA roster, but the plus side is that he’s getting plenty of playing time being back with the G League’s Texas Legends.

To say that Jackson was shooting well from the start of Monday’s game would be an understatement. He scored four 3-pointers in the first five minutes, with every shot getting nothing but net.

Jackson made 6 of 7 3-point attempts with 28 points by halftime. Jackson finished with 36 points in 38 minutes, going 13 of 20 from the floor and 7 of 11 from 3-point range with seven rebounds in the Legends’ 134–128 home loss to Salt Lake City.

His 16 first-quarter points were nearly as many as the 20 points he scored over 107 minutes in 23 games for the Boston Celtics this season. The Celtics dealt him to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline, and the Thunder released him.

In that first quarter, he also had a steal at one end and a driving layup at the other end.

In five games with Texas, he’s averaging 20.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

His numbers Monday were far from his best in a G League game. He scored 41 points and 11 3-pointers in 38 minutes on Nov. 6, 2021, for Texas in a 120–103 road win over Lakeland.

His career-high point total at Carolina was 34 points in a Dec. 17, 2016, loss to Kentucky. His highest 3-point output was seven when he scored 27 on Dec. 7, 2016, in a win over Davidson.

There was a taste of the UNC-Duke rivalry in the game, with former Blue Devil Frank Jackson scoring 45 points for Salt Lake City.


In the NBA, Harrison Barnes collected 14 points, three rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block as Sacramento rolled to 123–108 home win over New Orleans.

There was more UNC-Duke intrigue in this game.

Barnes made an open layup midway through the third quarter despite former Blue Devil Brandon Ingram contesting the shot. When the officials didn’t call a foul, Barnes yelled, “f—ing and one!” (not “where’s the foul” as the announcer suggested in the below video). That earned Barnes his first technical foul since his rookie season 10 years ago.

The Kings (38–26) have won six of their first seven games since the All-Star break and are a half-game behind Memphis for second in the Western Conference.


Nassir Little had nine points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in Portland’s 110–104 road win Monday over Detroit.


It hasn’t worked out well for Danny Green in Cleveland so far.

Green didn’t play (coach’s decision) in the Cavaliers’ 118–114 overtime home victory Monday against Boston. That’s the second time he hasn’t gotten off the bench in three games and the third time in the last six.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

Off Monday
Season statistics — 45 games, 12.1 points, 44.2 FG%, 33.6 3P%, 88.3 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Milwaukee; 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Utah


Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

123–108 Monday win vs. New Orleans — Started; 31 minutes, 14 points, 5–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, plus/minus of 0, 12.6 game score
Season statistics — 64 games, 15.1 points, 47.4 FG%, 37.5 3FG%, 84.3 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games 10 p.m. Thursday vs. New York, TNT; 9 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix


Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

Off Monday
Season statistics 63 games, 7.2 points, 40.2 FG%, 37.9 3P%, 68.6 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Next games 8:30 Tuesday vs. Utah; 7:30 Wednesday at New Orleans, ESPN


Danny Green, Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Age 35 | 6–6, 205 | 13th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)

118–114 Monday OT win vs. Boston — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics 7 games, 80 minutes, 25 points, 8–21 FG, 8–17 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at Miami; 8 p.m. Friday at Miami, NBATV


Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

Off Monday
Season statistics — 26 games, 15.4 points, 46.5 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 82.1 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Next games 8 p.m. Tuesday at Houston; 8 p.m. Thursday at Milwaukee


Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Off Monday
Season statistics 62 games, 8.4 points, 71.4 FG%, 53.2 FT%, 1–2 3FG, 8.1 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.3 blocks
Next games 8:30 Tuesday at Dallas; 7 p.m. Thursday at Orlando


Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)


110–104 Monday win at Detroit — 15 minutes, 9 points, 4–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 foul, +2, 8.3 game score
Season statistics — 44 games, 6.5 points, 47.7 FG%, 41.5 3P%, 65.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games 7:30 Wednesday at Boston; 7 p.m. Friday at Philadelphia,


Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)


Off Monday
Season statistics — 33 games, 1.9 points, 33.9 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 81.8 FT, 1.2 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games 8:30 Tuesday vs. Utah; 7:30 Wednesday at New Orleans, ESPN


Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Off Monday
Season NBA statistics — 35 games, 3.9 points, 53.2 FG%, 5–8 3FG, 59.3 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.6 of a block
Season G League statistics 14 games, 16.3 points, 64.4 2PFG%, 21.1 3FG%, 57.1 FT%, 12.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, 12 double-doubles
Next games 8 p.m. Tuesday at Houston; 8 p.m. Thursday at Milwaukee


Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

Off Monday
Season statistics 57 games, 8.8 points, 42.1 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Next games 9 p.m. Wednesday at Denver; 8 p.m. Saturday at Houston


Bradley free agent

On Feb. 21, Chicago waived Tony Bradley. His season statistics: 12 games, 33 minutes, 19 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 4–4 FT, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block


In the G League

Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)

Off Monday
Season statistics 36 games, 13.2 points, 63.0 2P FGP%, 0–19 3P, 59.2 FT%, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 of a block, 23 double-doubles
Next games 10 p.m. Tuesday at Stockton; 10 p.m. Thursday at Stockton


Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220 | Sixth pro season | UNC 2014–27 (3 seasons)

134–128 Monday loss vs. Salt Lake City — Started; 38 minutes, 36 points, 13–20 FG, 7–11 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 block, -3
Season G League statistics — 5 games, 20.4 points, 50.0 2P FG%, 38.0 3FG%, 63.66 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 steals
Season NBA statistics (with Boston) — 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Next games 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Windy City; 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Windy City


Get an explanation of the game score metric here. Michael Jordan produced the all-time-high game score of 64.6 on March 28, 1990, in the Chicago Bulls’ 117–113 overtime win at Cleveland. Jordan had 69 points on 23 of 37 shooting (2 of 6 from 3-point range), made 21 of 23 free-throw attempts and collected 18 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block.

Photos via @TexasLegends

Leave a comment