By R.L. Bynum
Coby White’s Bulls avenged a loss the night before to Cole Anthony’s Magic, but the big Saturday story for Tar Heels in the NBA was Harrison Barnes’ huge game for the surging Sacramento Kings.
Barnes had 28 points, five 3-pointers, seven rebounds and four assists to lead the Kings to a 119–113 home victory over Denver for their third consecutive game and their sixth win in seven games to move to 3–0 against the Nuggets this season. The Kings have fought back to .500 for the first time since Jan. 6.
Barnes has a season-high five 3-pointers in two of the last three games.
It was his third game with more than 25 points this season after hitting 30 Jan. 11 against Indiana and 26 on Jan. 29 on the road against Toronto. His 26.3 game score was his second-best of the season, behind only the 27.6 in that Indiana game.
During an episode last week of his “The Lowe Post” podcast, ESPN’s Zach Lowe called Barnes the “the most underappreciated player” in the NBA.
“You need to post a little guy? He can do it,” Lowe said. “You need to run an emergency pick and roll late in the shot clock? He can do it. For all the guff he’s taken and the hate, there are a lot of NBA teams that would be better if Harrison Barnes were on their team.”
White had a good overall game in the Bulls’ 118–92 victory in Orlando after losing to the Magic the night before. White collected 13 points, five rebounds, six assists, two blocks and no turnovers.
In the loss, Anthony had 11 points, three rebounds, five assists, two steals, two blocks and two turnovers. The 8.0 game score was his lowest in four games.
Danny Green had 11 points and three 3-pointers in Philadelphia’s 124–108 home victory over Brooklyn. Tony Bradley didn’t play for the Sixers.
In New York’s 110–99 home win over Portland, Reggie Bullock had 10 points and two blocks and his third-best game score of the season at 9.4. It was his first game with two blocks since doing it Feb. 10, 2019, for the Lakers at Philadelphia. Theo Pinson didn’t play for the fifth consecutive Knicks game.
Nassir Little missed his third consecutive game for the Blazers with a left knee injury since he scored 30 points Monday at Milwaukee.
Wayne Ellington missed his second consecutive game, Detroit’s 135–120 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles, with a calf injury.
In Oklahoma City’s 120–118 win over Minnesota, Justin Jackson had seven points and two 3-pointers for the Thunder and Ed Davis was scoreless in three minutes for the Timberwolves.
How Tar Heels did Saturday, what’s ahead
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
118–92 loss vs. Chicago — Started; 30 minutes, 11 points, 5–16 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, -34, 8.0 game score
Season statistics — 24 games, 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 37.8FG%, 33.3%3P, 83.6FT
Up next — Tuesday at Portland, 10 p.m.; Thursday at Golden State, 10 p.m.
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
119–113 win vs. Denver — Started; 38 minutes, 28 points, 10–16 FG, 5–7 3FG, 3–5 FG, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, +9, 26.3
Season statistics — 22 games, 17.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 50.6FG%, 43.4%3P, 85.1FT%
Up next — Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers, 3 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Philadelphia, 10 p.m.
Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
124–108 vs. Brooklyn — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 8 games, 4.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 50.0 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 3–5 FT
Up next — Tuesday at Sacramento, 10 p.m.; Thursday at Portland, 10 p.m., TNT
Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
110–99 win vs. Portland — Started, 26 minutes, 10 points, 4–6 FG, 2–4 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 blocks, +14, 9.4 game score
Season statistics — 19 games, 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 39.9FG%, 34.9%3P, 75.0FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Miami, 1 p.m.; Tuesday at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
120–118 loss at Oklahoma City — 3 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, +1, 1.0 game score
Season statistics — 18 games, 2.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 40.5FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Monday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 8 p.m.
Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
135–120 loss at Los Angeles Lakers — Missed game with a calf injury
Season statistics — 15 games, 12.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 51.6FG%, 50.5 3P%, 72.7FT%
Up next — Tuesday vs. Brooklyn, 7 p.m.; Thursday vs. Indiana, 8 p.m.
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
124–108 vs. Brooklyn — Started; 26 minutes, 11 points, 4–8 FG, 3–7 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, +14, 6.9 game score
Season statistics — 24 games, 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 39.5FG%, 36.9%3P 66.7FT%
Up next — Tuesday at Sacramento, 10 p.m.; Thursday at Portland, 10 p.m., TNT
Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
120–118 win vs. Minnesota — 19 minutes, 7 points, 2–4 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, +7, 3.3 game score
Season statistics — 12 games, 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assist, 38.7FG%, 22.9%3P, 83.3FT%
Up next — Monday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m.; Wednesday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m.
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
No game
Season statistics — 20 games, 11.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 43.4FG%, 36.2%3P, 86.4FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Boston, 2 p.m., NBATV; Monday vs. Cleveland, 9 p.m.
Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
110–99 loss at New York — Missed game with a left knee injury
Season statistics — 9 games, 5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 51.7%FG, 58.3%3P, 88.9FG%
Up next — Tuesday vs. Orlando, 10 p.m.; Thursday vs. Philadelphia, 10 p.m., TNT
Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
110–99 win vs. Portland — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 7 games, 2 points, 1–6 FG, 0–5 3FG, 1 rebound
Up next — Sunday vs. Miami, 1 p.m.; Tuesday at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
118–92 win at Orlando — Started; 27 minutes, 13 points, 5–12 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–1 FG, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, -19, 10.0 game score
Season statistics — 22 games, 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 40.0FG%, 35.9%3P, 86.0 FT
Up next — Monday vs. Washington, 8 p.m.; Wednesday vs. New Orleans, 9 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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