By R.L. Bynum
Cameron Johnson won the battle of former UNC teammates over Coby White on a night when Harrison Barnes had yet another good game. This time, though, Barnes punctuated it with big plays in the end to put an end to the Sacramento Kings’ nine-game losing streak.
Barnes scored six of his 21 points in the final 3:47 as the Kings won at Detroit 110–107 for their first win since Feb. 7.
He had two 3-pointers, eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one block for a 20.8 game score. He put up game scores of more than 20 in consecutive games (20.4 the night before) for the first time this season.
Barnes’ driving dunk with 1:08 left gave Sacramento a two-point lead, then a step-back 3-pointer with 41.4 seconds left pushed the lead to four. On the 3-pointer, he put a move on former Duke player Mason Plumlee to create space.
He added a free throw with 7.4 seconds left to provide the final winning margin.
Wayne Ellington had three points and two assists in 17 minutes for Detroit.
Johnson’s Phoenix Suns beat White’s Chicago Bulls 106–97, although White had the better game.
White collected 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while Johnson had eight points, two 3-pointers, three assists and a steal.
In addition to having a friendship with Johnson, White is also close with the Suns’ Chris Paul. White played for Paul’s AAU teams in high school, and when White’s father died of liver cancer in 2019, Paul became like a family member. White still calls Paul “big bro.”
“I mean, you step on the court, all that dwindles away,’’ White said. ‘‘All that dwindles away, for sure. We’ve both got one goal when we go out there, and that’s to help our team win the game, no matter what.”
Paul finished with 14 points and 15 assists.
Justin Jackson had three points in 14 minutes of Oklahoma City’s 118–109 home win over Atlanta and Nassir Little was scoreless with three rebounds in 12 minutes of Portland’s 102–93 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
How Tar Heels did Friday, what’s next
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
No game
Season statistics — 25 games, 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 37.4FG%, 32.4%3P, 83.6FT
Up next — Saturday vs. Utah, 8 p.m.; Monday vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
110–107 win at Detroit — Started; 40 minutes, 21 points, 5–14 FG, 2–7 3FG, 9–14 FT, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, +6, 20.8 game score
Season statistics — 30 games, 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 48.3FG%, 39.4%3P, 81.9FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. Charlotte, 10 p.m., FSS; Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m.
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Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 11 games, 3.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 54.1 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 3–5 FT
Up next — Saturday vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.; Monday vs. Indiana, 7 p.m.
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics — 28 games, 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 41.0FG%, 36.9%3P, 85.7FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. Indiana, 8 p.m.; Sunday at Detroit, 8 p.m.
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
No game
Season statistics — 19 games, 2.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Saturday at Washington, 7 p.m.; Sunday vs. Phoenix, 9 p.m.
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Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
110–107 loss vs. Sacramento — Started; 17 minutes, 3 points, 1–4 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2 assists, -12, 1.2 game score
Season statistics — 25 games, 9.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 43.4FG%, 40.4 3P%, 68.2FT%
Up next — Sunday vs. New York, 8 p.m.; Tuesday at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
No game
Season statistics — 34 games, 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 40.2FG%, 38.5%3P, 65.0FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.; Monday vs. Indiana, 7 p.m.
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Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
118–109 win vs. Atlanta — 14 minutes, 3 points, 1–4 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, +/- of 0, 1.6 game score
Season statistics — 22 games, 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 43.9FG%, 32.9%3P, 80.0FT%
Up next — Saturday vs. Denver, 8 p.m.; Wednesday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
106–97 win at Chicago — 18 minutes, 8 points, 3–5 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3 assists, 1 steal, +12, 8.0 game score
Season statistics — 32 games, 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.1FG%, 37.5%3P, 86.1FT%
Up next — Sunday at Minnesota, 9 p.m.; Tuesday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., TNT
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
102–93 loss at Los Angeles Lakers — 12 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, +5, -0.2 game score
Season statistics — 17 games, 4.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist, 52.9%FG, 51.9%3P, 88.2FT%
Up next — Monday vs. Charlotte, FSS, NBATV; Wednesday vs. Golden State, 10 p.m., ESPN
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics — 10 games, 2 points, 1–7 FG, 0–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Up next — Saturday vs. Indiana, 8 p.m.; Sunday at Detroit, 8 p.m.
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
106–97 loss vs. Phoenix — Started; 31 minutes, 19 points, 7–16 FG, 1–6 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, -9, 10.9 game score
Season statistics — 32 games, 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 41.7FG%, 34.9%3P, 88.2 FT
Up next — Sunday at Toronto, 7 p.m.; Monday vs. Denver, 9 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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