By R.L. Bynum
After not getting off the bench in the previous three games, Justin Jackson scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half as Oklahoma City earned a 113–103 home victory over Toronto. He played as if he had something to prove with his play on both ends of the court.
At 24 minutes, that was the most playing time for Jackson since he played nearly 34 minutes in a 22-point game against Milwaukee on Feb. 14. It was only his third game with at least 20 minutes since then.
Jackson, who four rebounds and one steal, had two 3-pointers over a three-possession first-half span for Oklahoma City.
In a key fourth-quarter stretch after Toronto had cut the Thunder’s lead to three, Tony Bradley had a block and rebound on one end and Jackson made an alley-oop pass to Svi Mykhailiuk for a dunk on the other end with eight minutes left.
Bradley, in his second game with Oklahoma City, had five points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block in 18 minutes.
The Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right foot plantar fasciitis), Lu Dort (concussion), Darius Bazley and Aleksej Pokusevski (health and safety protocols).
It wasn’t the best night for Tar Heels with three missing their games because of injuries. Cole Anthony, who is getting closer to returning, missed his 22nd consecutive game with a right first rib non-displaced fracture, Wayne Ellington was out with a sore right calf muscle and Coby White missed his second consecutive game with muscle spasms in his neck.
Not injured but not playing were Minnesota’s Ed Davis for the 24th consecutive game, New York’s Theo Pinson for the ninth consecutive game and Portland’s Nassir Little.
Reggie Bullock was the only other Tar Heel to score in double figures with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Knicks’ 102–101 loss at Minnesota.
Harrison Barnes had six points, 14 rebounds and five assists in Sacramento’s 120–106 road loss to San Antonio.
Cameron Johnson had six points and two 3-pointers in 20 minutes in Phoenix home wins on consecutive nights, 117–110 over Atlanta on Tuesday and 121–116 over Chicago on Wednesday.
On Tuesday night, Danny Green had eight points, four rebounds and three assists in Philadelphia’s 104–95 loss at Denver.
How Tar Heels did Tuesday & Wednesday, what’s next
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
103–96 Tuesday win at Los Angeles Clippers — Missed 22nd consecutive game with a right first 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 — Thursday at New Orleans, 8 p.m.; Saturday at Utah, 9 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
120–106 Wednesday loss at San Antonio — Started; 35 minutes, 6 points, 2–8 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, -18, 9.8 game score
Season statistics — 45 games, 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 48.4FG%, 36.2%3P, 82.3FT%
Up next — Friday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m.; Saturday vs. Milwaukee, 10 p.m.
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Tony Bradley, Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward
113–103 Wednesday win vs. Toronto — 18 minutes, 5 points, 1–4 FG, 3–4 FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, +12, 5.5 game score
Season statistics — 22 games, 5.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 67.1 FG%, 0–0 3FG, 70.6FT%
Up next — Friday at Phoenix, 10 p.m.; Saturday at Portland, 10 p.m.
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Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
102–101 Wednesday loss at Minnesota — Started; 39 minutes, 10 points, 4–6 FG, 2–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, -10, 11.3 game score
Season statistics — 41 games, 9.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 41.9FG%, 38.9%3P, 86.2FT%
Up next — Friday vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., NBATV; Saturday at Detroit, 8 p.m.
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Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
102–101 Wednesday win vs. New York — Didn’t play for the 24th consecutive game
Season statistics — 19 games, 2.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 87.5FT%
Up next — Friday at Memphis, 8 p.m.; Saturday vs. Philadelphia, 8 p.m.
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Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
124–101 Wednesday loss vs. Portland — Missed game with right calf soreness
Season statistics — 34 games, 10.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 45.2FG%, 42.6 3P%, 77.4FT%
Up next — Thursday vs. Washington, 7 p.m.; Saturday vs. New York, 8 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
104–95 Tuesday loss at Denver — Started; 23 minutes, 8 points, 2–5 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, -22, 10.3 game score
Season statistics — 47 games, 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 41.5FG%, 40.6%3P, 73.1FT%
Up next — Thursday at Cleveland, 7 p.m.; Saturday vs. Minnesota, 8 p.m.
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Justin Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
113–103 Wednesday win vs. Toronto — 24 minutes, 12 points, 5–14 FG, 2–6 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +9, 7.9 game score
Season statistics — 31 games, 7.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 41.3FG%, 30.7%3P, 84.8FT%
Up next — Friday at Phoenix, 10 p.m.; Saturday at Portland, 10 p.m.
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
117–110 Tuesday win vs. Atlanta — 20 minutes; 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, -3, 3.2 game score
121–116 Wednesday win vs. Chicago — 20 minutes, 6 points, 2–4 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, +5, 6.0 game score
Season statistics — 41 games, 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 43.4FG%, 37.6%3P, 86.5FT%
Up next — Friday vs. Oklahoma City, 10 p.m.; Monday at Houston, 8 p.m.
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Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
124–101 Wednesday win at Detroit — Didn’t play
Season statistics — 29 games, 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist, 44.9%FG, 37.9%3P, 85.7FT%
Up next — Friday vs. Milwaukee, 10 p.m., NBATV; Saturday vs. Oklahoma City, 10 p.m.
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Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
102–101 Wednesday loss at Minnesota — Didn’t play for the 9th consecutive game
Season statistics — 12 games, 2 points, 1–8 FG, 0–7 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Up next — Friday vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., NBATV; Saturday at Detroit, 8 p.m.
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
121–116 Wednesday loss at Phoenix — Missed second consecutive game with muscle spasms in his neck
Season statistics — 44 games, 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 40.9FG%, 35.1%3P, 89.5 FT%
Up next — Friday at Utah, 9 p.m.; Sunday vs. Brooklyn, 2 p.m.
What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.
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