By R.L. Bynum
With the help of impressive play from Harrison Barnes, the Sacramento Kings have gone from losing nine consecutive games to nearly winning back-to-back games.
Nearly, because an amazing Charlotte comeback denied the Kings late Sunday in a 127–126 Hornets victory.
For the fourth time since Barnes returned from missing three games with a left foot strain, he scored at least 18 points. Barnes contributed 28 points, four 3-pointers, six rebounds and six assists, but the Kings blew a nine-point lead with 2:19 left.
“Guys are frustrated because we played well enough to win and we were in position to win. We have to be better at finishing out that late-game execution,” Barnes said. “Collectively, we had four minutes to get a win and we couldn’t get it done.”
The Kings still led 123–115 after Barnes’ driving two-handed dunk over Miles Bridges with 1:13 left.
But Barnes challenged a 3-point attempt by Charlotte’s Terry Rozier with 33.9 seconds left and got called for the foul. Rozier made three free throws to cut the Hornets’ deficit to 123–121.
“Defensively, we just have to be better. I fouled a shooter, giving them three extra free throws,” Barnes said.
After a De’Aaron Fox bucket, P.J. Washington, who scored 42 points, cut it to 125–124 on a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left.
Buddy Hield gave the Kings a 126–124 lead on a free throw with 10.7 seconds left, but Malik Monk won it for Charlotte on a 3-point play with 1.4 seconds left.
Barnes’ 28 points tied his second-best scoring game of the season. He scored 28 on Feb. 6 against Denver and hit a season-high 30 Jan. 11 against Indiana. Barnes’ 24.4 game score was his third-best this season.
In Detroit’s 109–90 Sunday home loss to New York, Wayne Ellington came off the bench for the first time since Jan. 10 and contributed 15 points on four 3-pointers.
Out of the starting lineup for the first time in 24 games, Ellington scored in double figures for only the second time in the 11 games since he scored 20 and put up the same 14.0 game score against the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 28.
The Knicks pushed above .500 with their third consecutive win after they also beat Indiana at home 110–107 Saturday night. Reggie Bullock collected nine points and five rebounds in both games, hitting three 3-pointers in Sunday’s win. His 8.9 game score Sunday was his best in 10 games. Theo Pinson didn’t play in either game.
Cameron Johnson collected six points and three rebounds in the Phoenix Suns’ 118–99 Sunday win at Minnesota. His -1.0 game score was his lowest of the season.
Ed Davis didn’t play in that game or the Timberwolves’ 128–112 Saturday loss at Washington. In the last 11 games and 13 of the last 15, Davis has not played.
Coby White’s Chicago Bulls had their Sunday game in Tampa, Fla., against Toronto postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests on the Raptors’ roster. Chicago plays host to Denver on Monday night.
White is wearing custom-made hoodies, including some featuring civil-rights icons, before every Bulls home game.
In other Saturday games, Danny Green had nine points, three 3-pointers, four rebounds, two steals and three blocks in Philadelphia’s 112–109 overtime loss to Cleveland. Tony Bradley didn’t play in the game.
Justin Jackson had two points, three rebounds and a steal in 13 minutes of Oklahoma City’s 126–96 home loss to Denver.
How Tar Heels did over weekend, what’s next
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
124–109 Saturday loss vs. Utah — Missed ninth consecutive games with a right rib non-displaced fracture
Season statistics — 25 games, 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 37.4FG%, 32.4%3P, 83.6FT
Up next — Monday vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Atlanta, 8 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
127–126 Sunday loss vs. Charlotte — Started; 42 minutes, 28 points, 10–14 FG, 4–7 3FG, 4–5 FT, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, +10, 24.4 game score
Season statistics — 31 games, 16.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.8FG%, 40.3%3P, 81.8FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m.; Thursday at Portland, 10 p.m.
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Tony Bradley, Philadelphia Sixers center/forward
112–109 OT Saturday loss vs. Cleveland — Didn’t play
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 — Monday vs. Indiana, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Utah, 7 p.m.
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
110–107 Saturday win vs. Indiana — Started; 27 minutes, 9 points, 4–11 FG, 1–4 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, +/- of 0, 4.0 game score
109–90 Sunday win at Detroit — Started; 22 minutes, 9 points, 3–5 FG, 3–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +21, 8.9 game score
Season statistics — 30 games, 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 41.2FG%, 38.0%3P, 85.7FT%
Up next — Tuesday at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.; Thursday vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
128–112 Saturday loss at Washington — Didn’t play
118–99 Sunday loss vs. Phoenix — Didn’t play.
Season statistics — 19 games, 2.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Charlotte, 8 p.m., FSS; Thursday at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
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Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
109–90 Sunday loss vs. New York — 20 minutes, 15 points, 4–6 FG, 4–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 block, -8, 14.0 game score
Season statistics — 26 games, 10.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 44.1FG%, 41.4 3P%, 72.0FT%
Up next — Tuesday at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at New York, 7:30 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
112–109 Saturday OT loss vs. Cleveland — 37 minutes, 9 points, 3–9 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, -1, 7.7 game score
Season statistics — 34 games, 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 40.2FG%, 38.5%3P, 65.0FT%
Up next — Monday vs. Indiana, 7 p.m.; Wednesday vs. Utah, 7 p.m.
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Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
126–96 Saturday loss vs. Denver — 13 minutes, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, +3, 1.6 game score
Season statistics — 23 games, 6.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 42.6FG%, 31.1%3P, 80.0FT%
Up next — Wednesday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.; Thursday at San Antonio, 9 p.m.
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
118–99 Sunday win at Minnesota — 16 minutes, 6 points, 2–9 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers, +10, -1.0 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 43.4FG%, 37.0%3P, 86.5FT%
Up next — Tuesday at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., TNT; Thursday vs. Golden State, 10 p.m.
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
No game
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, 10:30 p.m., FSS, NBATV; Wednesday vs. Golden State, 10 p.m., ESPN
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
110–107 Saturday win vs. Indiana — Didn’t play
109–90 Sunday win at Detroit — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 10 games, 2 points, 1–7 FG, 0–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Up next — Tuesday at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.; Thursday vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
Sunday’s game vs. Toronto in Tampa, Fla., postponed because of positive test results on Raptors’ roster
Season statistics — 32 games, 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 41.7FG%, 34.9%3P, 88.2 FT
Up next — Monday vs. Denver, 9 p.m.; Wednesday at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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