Big G League openers for Jackson, Pinson; Anthony hits 21; Barnes double-double

By R.L. Bynum

Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson would prefer to be in the NBA, but they did all they could to make a good impression as starters in their season debuts to lead G League victories Friday night.

With more play like this, both members of the 2017 NCAA championship team will hopefully be back in the NBA.

Justin Jackson produced an efficient double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes for the Texas Legends (the Dallas Mavericks’ affiliate) in a 115–98 road win over the reigning league champion Lakeland Magic.

Jackson was 10 of 19 from the floor, 4 of 8 from 3-point range with three assists and two steals.

It was his first G League action since averaging 17.8 points in six games during the 2017–18 season for the Reno Bighorns when he was with Sacramento.

Jackson was with the Milwaukee Bucks when they won the NBA title last season.


Pinson celebrated his 26th birthday by collecting 15 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Maine Celtics’ 116–103 road victory over the College Park Skyhawks (the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate).

Pinson played sparingly in the NBA for the New York Knicks last season but never saw action in the G League.

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Friday’s game was his first G League action since averaging 15.1 points in nine games for the Long Island Nets in the 2019–20 season. He averaged 20.1 points in 35 games for Long Island during the 2018–19 season.

Pinson went to preseason camp with the Boston Celtics. After he was unable to earn a two-way contract, he was assigned to Maine. Friday’s game was his 45th in the G League, 44th as a starter.

Former Virginia star Sam Hauser, who does have a two-way contract with Boston, led Maine with 27 points.


Day’Ron Sharpe is expected to play Saturday for the Long Island Nets at Delaware. Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said several weeks ago that Sharpe would play some G League games because he knew the rookie would have trouble getting much NBA playing time.


In the NBA, Cole Anthony put up his fifth game in 10 outings of 20 or more points in Orlando’s 102–89 home loss Friday to San Antonio. He had 21 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Sloppy play prevented the Magic from mounting a rally.

“I had five [turnovers] and Jalen [Suggs] had five, so we’ve got to be better there,” said Anthony, who was 8 of 18 from the floor. “I’ve got to play better. I took too many bad shots and played selfishly. Just got to play better.”

Orlando fell to 2–8 and is 0–4 at home.


Harrison Barnes collected 14 points and 10 rebounds in Sacramento’s 140–110 home win over Charlotte. It was his fourth double-double in nine games this season but his lowest scoring output and lowest game score (12.2) this season.

He dished out four assists and had two of the Kings’ franchise-record 22 3-pointers as they won their second straight to go over .500 at 5–4.


In Portland’s 110–105 home win over Indiana, Nassir Little had seven points and four rebounds in 15 minutes and went over 200 career defensive rebounds with 202.


On Thursday, Wayne Ellington finally made his season debut after battling through a left hamstring strain. In the Los Angeles Lakers’ 107–104 home loss to Oklahoma City, Ellington played nine minutes and had three points on 1 of 6 shooting with two rebounds and one assist.


Cameron Johnson enjoyed his best scoring game of the season Thursday, with 12 points in 23 minutes of a 123–111 Phoenix home victory over Houston. He was 2 of 3 from 3-point range and made an impressive twisting move for one basket.

That was the most points for Johnson since he scored 14 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 11 against Milwaukee. His career-high is 21, which he scored March 3, 2020, against Toronto and Dec. 27, 2020, against Sacramento.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
102–89 Friday loss vs. San Antonio —
Started; 35 minutes, 21 points, 8–18 FG, 4–10 3FG, 1–1 FT, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, -14, 14.7 game score
Season statistics — 10 games, 18.9 points, 42.1 FG%, 40.3 3FG%, 83.3 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Utah; 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Brooklyn
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
140–110Friday win vs. Charlotte —
Started; 37 minutes, 14 points, 38 FG, 2–6 3FG, 6–7 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +23, 12.2 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 22.2 points, 48.8 FG%, 45.9 3FG%, 84.7 FT%, 9.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana; 10 p.m. Monday vs. Phoenix
———————————————
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off Thursday and Friday
Season statistics — 5 games, 2.0 points, 55.6 FG%, 3.2 rebounds
Up next — 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia; 8 p.m. Monday vs. Brooklyn, 8 p.m.
———————————————
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Off Thursday and Friday
Season statistics —
8 games, 6.1 points, 36.2 FG%, 32.4 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next —
8:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Boston; 8:30 Monday vs. New Orleans
———————————————
Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
102–101 Friday win at Toronto —
Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics —
2 games, 0 points, 1 rebound
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday at New York; 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Washington
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
107–104 Thursday loss vs. Oklahoma City —
(season debut) 9 minutes, 3 points, 1–6 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, -3, 0.9 game score
Up next — 10:30 Saturday at Portland, NBATV; 10 p.m. Monday vs. Charlotte, NBATV, BSSE
———————————————
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
109–98 Thursday win at Detroit —
Didn’t play (left hamstring soreness)
Season statistics — 7 games, 6.6 points, 47.1 FG%, 43.8 3FG%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Saturday at Chicago; 7 p.m. Monday vs. New York
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
123–111 Thursday win vs. Houston —
23 minutes, 12 points, 4–9 FG, 2–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, +8, 7.9 game score
Season statistics —
4 games, 6.3 points, 34.6 FG%, 35.3 3FG%, 1.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Atlanta; 10 p.m. Monday at Sacramento
———————————————
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
110–106Friday win vs. Indiana —
15 minutes, 7 points, 2–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 turnover, +3, 5.1 game score
Season statistics —
9 games, 7.1 points, 51.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 10:30 Saturday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, NBATV; 10 p.m. Tuesday at Los Angeles Clippers, TNT
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Recovering from injury
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard (had left shoulder surgery; unlikely to play until late November)
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In G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
115–98 Friday win at Lakeland Magic — (season opener) Started; 26 minutes, 25 points, 10–19 FG, 4–8 3FG, 1–1 FT, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, +11
———————————————
Theo Pinson, Maine Celtics guard
116–103 Friday win at College Park Skyhawks —
(season opener) Started; 32 minutes, 15 points, 4–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +20
———————————————
Day’Ron Sharpe, Long Island Nets center
Opener at 7 p.m. Saturday at Delaware
Season NBA statistics — 4 games, 7 points, 3–4 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2 rebounds

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