Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson leads surge from bench for hot Suns; Davis has 10 rebounds in 10 minutes in first game since Feb. 8

By R.L. Bynum

The Phoenix Suns rolled to their third consecutive victory and 10th in their last 11, and a big credit went to their reserves, led by Cameron Johnson.

Johnson led four reserves to score in double figures with 15 points, eight in the second quarter, as Phoenix earned a 107–86 home victory over the Miami Heat.

Johnson had three 3-pointers and collected five rebounds, two assists and a steal. It was Johnson’s sixth game in the last seven scoring in double figures and fifth in the last seven with at least three 3-pointers.


The big news for Ed Davis was that he got the chance to play.

When Davis entered Minnesota’s Tuesday afternoon 127–97 home loss to Brooklyn with 10:20 left in the game, that was the first time he’d been in a game since Feb. 8. He had gone 30 consecutive games without playing before making only his 20th appearance this season.

Although he didn’t get off any shots, he finished two points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 10 minutes and a season-high 11.5 game score. He had seven rebounds in his first five minutes. The 10 minutes were his most in a game since playing nearly 20 minutes on Feb. 1 at Cleveland.

Davis was one of three Tar Heels who played Tuesday and went scoreless.


Nassir Little had no points and one rebound in seven minutes in Portland’s 116–115 home loss to Boston.


Tony Bradley had no points and five rebounds in 11 minutes in Oklahoma City’s 106–96 loss at Utah.

How Tar Heels did Tuesday, what’s next

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
No game
Season statistics — 29 games, 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 37.3FG%, 29.9%3P, 84.1FT
Up next — Wednesday at Chicago, 8 p.m.; Friday vs. Toronto in Tampa, Fla., 7:30 p.m.
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings guard
No game
Season statistics
— 51 games, 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 48.7FG%, 36.0%3P, 82.4FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Washington, 10 p.m.; Thursday at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
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Tony Bradley, Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward
106–96 loss at Utah —
11 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 5 rebounds, +1, `.6 game score
Season statistics
— 29 games, 6.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 65.6 FG%, 0–2 3FG, 67.9FT%
Up next —
Wednesday vs. Golden State, 9 p.m.; Friday at Detroit, 7 p.m.
——————————————————
Reggie Bullock, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics —
48 games, 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 42.4FG%, 39.3%3P, 88.6FT%
Up next — Wednesday at New Orleans, 8 p.m.; Friday at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
——————————————————
Ed Davis, Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward
127–97 loss vs. Brooklyn — 10 minutes, 2 points, 0–0 FG, 2–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, +7, 11.5 game score
Season statistics — 20 games, 2.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 41.9FG%, 0–0 3FG, 90.0FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Milwaukee, 8 p.m.; Friday vs. Miami, 8 p.m.
——————————————————
Wayne Ellington, Detroit Pistons guard
No game
Season statistics —
39 games, 9.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.7FG%, 42.4 3P%, 78.8FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 8 p.m.; Friday vs. Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
No game
Season statistics —
53 games, 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 42.1FG%, 41.4%3P, 72.4FT%
Up next —
Wednesday vs. Brooklyn, 7 p.m., ESPN; Friday vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 7 p.m., ESPN
——————————————————
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
106–86 win vs. Miami —
30 minutes, 15 points, 6–11 FG, 3–8 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, +21, 8.8 game score
Season statistics — 48 games, 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 45.0FG%, 39.4%3P, 86.7FT%
Up next — Thursday vs. Sacramento, 10 p.m.; Saturday vs. San Antonio, 10 p.m.
——————————————————
Nassir Little, Portland Blazers forward/guard
116–115 loss vs. Boston —
7 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, -10, 0.3 game score
Season statistics — 35 games, 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist, 48.5%FG, 38.2%3P, 86.8FT%
Up next — Friday at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.; Sunday at Charlotte, 7 p.m., BSSE
——————————————————
Theo Pinson, New York Knicks guard/forward
No game
Season statistics — 14 games, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Up next — Wednesday at New Orleans, 8 p.m.; Friday at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
——————————————————
Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
No game
Season statistics — 50 games, 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 41.0FG%, 34.0%3P, 90.6 FT%
Up next — Wednesday vs. Orlando, 8 p.m.; Friday vs. Memphis, 8 p.m.

What is a game score? Here is an exclamation.

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