Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes scores 21 in loss; Magic falls at Houston in Anthony’s first career start

By R.L. Bynum

It was a night full of frustrating losses for UNC alums on Friday night, with Harrison Barnes’ 21-point, game in a blowout loss the individual highlight.

Barnes put up his third game score of at least 20 with 20.2 in a 144–123 home loss to the Toronto Raptors. Barnes tied his season-high with eight assists, which he also dished out Dec. 29 against Denver. The Kings have lost four of their last five games.

The only Tar Heel who played in a victory was Wayne Ellington, who was scoreless in four minutes of his Detroit Pistons’ 110–105 overtime home victory over Cameron Johnson’s Phoenix Suns. Johnson had a career-high-tying three blocks to go with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.

A Detroit Free Press article published Friday contends that Ellington is the Pistons’ ideal glue guy.

Cole Anthony’s first career start after the season-ending injury to Markelle Fultz didn’t go well as the Orlando Magic lost at Houston 132–90.

Anthony had nine turnovers in 172 minutes in his first eight games (one every 19 minutes) but turned the ball over three times in his first 7:52 Friday. He only turned the ball over once in his remaining 20:14 in the game, though, and finished with 15 points, three assists and two turnovers. His 7.9 game score was second only to the 12.3 he put up in a Dec. 27 win at Washington.

Coby White’s Chicago Bulls lost their second consecutive game on the third game of a West Coast road trip, falling to the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers 117–115. White scored 14 points, his lowest output in four games, and dished out five assists against three turnovers.

Reggie Bullock had six points and seven rebounds in the New York Knicks’ 101–89 loss to Oklahoma City as their three-game winning streak ended. For the sixth time in eight Thunder games, Justin Jackson didn’t play.

How Tar Heels did Friday and when they play next

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
132–90 loss at Houston — Started; 28 minutes, 15 points, 6–14 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, -27, 7.9 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 32.2FG%, 16.7%3P, 91.7FT
Up next — Saturday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.; Monday vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
144–123 loss vs. Toronto — Started; 31 minutes, 21 points, 6–8 FG, 2–2 3FG, 7–10 FT, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -15, 20.2 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 50.9FG%, 40.6%3P, 75.6FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. Portland, 10 p.m.; Monday vs. Indiana, 10 p.m.
Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 1 game, 4.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 28.6 FG%, no 3-point or FT attemptsUp next — Saturday vs. Denver, 3 p.m., NBATV; Monday at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
101–89 loss vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 38 minutes, 6 points, 0–2 FG, 0–0 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, -1, 3.9 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 8.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 38.5FG%, 31.8%3P, 57.1FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Denver, 6 p.m.; Monday at Charlotte, 7 p.m., FSS
Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 7 games, 1.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 27.8FG%, 0–0 3FG, 75.0FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.; Sunday vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.
Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
110–105 OT win vs. Phoenix — 4 minutes, no shots or statistics, +1, 0.0 game score
Season statistics — 4 games, 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 53.8FG%, 41.2 3P%, 1–1 FT
Up next — Sunday vs. Utah, 3 p.m., NBATV; Wednesday vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers guard
No game
Season statistics — 9 games, 8.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 43.9FG%, 39.1 3P%, 80.0 FT%Up next — Saturday vs. Denver, 3 p.m., NBATV; Monday at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
101–89 win at New York — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 2 games, 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 38.5FG%, 0–8 3FG, 4–4 FT
Up next — Sunday at Brooklyn, 6 p.m.; Tuesday vs. San Antonio, 8 p.m.
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns forward
110–105 OT loss at Detroit — 27 minutes, 10 points, 3–9 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, +18, 9.5 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 48.8FG%, 40.4%3P, 12–12 FT
Up next — Saturday at Indiana, 7 p.m.; Monday at Washington, 7 p.m.
Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
No game
Season statistics — 1 game, 2.0 points, 1.0 rebound, 0 assists, 1–1 FG, no FT or 3FG attempts
Up next — Saturday at Sacramento, 10 p.m.; Monday vs. Toronto, 10 p.m.
Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
101–89 loss vs. vs. Oklahoma City — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 4 games, 0 points, 0.3 of an assist, 0–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 rebound
Up next — Sunday vs. Denver, 6 p.m.; Monday at Charlotte, 7 p.m., FSS
Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
117–115 loss at Los Angeles Lakers — Started; 32 minutes, 14 points, 6–14 FG, 2–5 3FG, 0–0 FT, 3 rebounds 5 assists, 3 turnovers, -18, 6.8 game score
Season statistics — 10 games, 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 42.5FG%, 37.5%3P, 85.7 FT
Up next — Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers, 4 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Boston, 8 p.m.

What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.

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