By R.L. Bynum
Nassir Little was all over the court Friday night for Portland, bringing plenty of energy to the Blazers off the bench.
The third-year wing put up the first double-double since his rookie season with a season-high 13 points, a career-high 14 rebounds, a career-high-tying two steals and a highlight-reel dunk as Portland beat Houston 104–92 for its first road victory.
Portland coach Chauncey Billups called Little’s effort in the first half incredible.
“His energy, his will and tenacity was incredible,” Billups said. “I just tell him all the time: You can make mistakes when you play that hard, because most of the time you’re going to make up for it. I’m living with that. When you not playing hard, you just kind of getting through it and you make mistakes, I got no patience for that. We really rode his energy tonight.”
Little entered the game with Portland (6–7) trailing by four late in the first quarter. When he went back to the bench 10 minutes later, the Blazers had a lead they’d never relinquish. Little scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds in the first half.
“I think I come in every time, every single game, I bring the same thing,” said Little, who put up a season-high 14.5 game score. “I may not score a lot every game. But I’m going to play hard, I’m going to play defense and I’m going to try my best to do whatever I need to do in order to give us some kind of lift. Came out tonight, rebounded well, hit some shots so I think I did a good job of giving us a boost tonight.”
Little’s career-high in rebounding at Carolina was eight against Florida State when he scored 18 points on Feb. 23, 2019.
Billups said that Little’s thunderous third-quarter dunk will help his confidence and was the kind of play he needs him to make. It also made the announcers go crazy.
Harrison Barnes rebounded from a 9-point game in his previous outing to collect 21 points and five rebounds, but it was in Sacramento’s 105–103 road loss to Oklahoma City.
The fourth consecutive loss for the Kings (5–8) left Barnes frustrated.
“I’m at a loss for words for tonight,” Barnes said. “But I think in general if we’re going to preach consistency, we have to live up to that. And, right now, there’s too many areas in our game where we’re not doing that.”
Cameron Johnson tied his season-high 12 points and pulled down a season-high seven rebounds in Phoenix’s 119–94 victory at Memphis.
With three 3-pointers, Johnson passed Charles Barkley for 23rd on the all-time Suns 3-pointers list with 239.
Tony Bradley had three points and five rebounds in Chicago’s 119–93 loss at Golden State.
Reggie Bullock collected seven points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench a 123–109 Dallas win at San Antonio.
Wayne Ellington scored six points in 27 minutes in his first start of the season as the Los Angeles Lakers’ 107–83 loss to Minnesota.
On Thursday, Danny Green scored six points in 18 minutes of Philadelphia’s 115–109 home loss to Toronto.
In the G League Friday, Justin Jackson put up another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the Texas Legends’ 108–100 victory over Birmingham. Jackson’s 27.3 scoring average is fifth in the league and he has a league-leading 17 3-pointers.
In 25 minutes of the Maine Celtics’ 114–103 loss to Delaware, Theo Pinson had 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
(Thursday and Friday)
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Off Thursday and Friday
Season statistics — 12 games, 19.3 points, 44.0 FG%, 39.1 3FG%, 85.0 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Washington; 7:30 Monday at Atlanta
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
105–103 Friday loss at Oklahoma City — Started; 34 minutes, 21 points, 8–14 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover, -1, 13.7 game score
Season statistics — 13 games, 21.4 points, 49.7 FG%, 42.7 3FG%, 85.4 FT%, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Monday at Detroit; 8 p.m. Wednesday at Minnesota
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
119–93 Friday loss at Golden State — 13 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, -13, 2.1 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 2.3 points, 47.6 FG%, 4.0 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist
Up next — 9:30 Sunday at Los Angeles Clippers; 10:30 Monday at Los Angeles Lakers, NBATV
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
123–109 Friday win at San Antonio — 20 minutes, 7 points, 3–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, +23, 4.7 game score
Season statistics — 12 games, 6.8 points, 38.5 FG%, 32.1 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Monday vs. Denver, NBATV; 10 p.m. Wednesday at Phoenix
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
98–78 Friday win vs. Detroit — 3 minutes, 0 points, 2 turnovers, -3, -2.4 game score
Season statistics — 3 games, 0 points, 1 rebound
Up next — 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Boston, NBATV; 7 p.m. Monday vs. Boston
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
107–83 Friday loss vs. Minnesota — Started; 27 minutes, 6 points, 2–8 FG, 2–7 3FG, 1 turnover, -15, -0.6 game score
Season statistics — 5 games, 7.4 points, 38.7 FG%, 39.3 3FG%, 1.6 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 3:30 Sunday vs. San Antonio; 10:30 Monday vs. Chicago, NBATV
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
115–109 Thursday loss vs. Toronto — Started; 18 minutes, 6 points, 2–4 FG, 2–4 3FG, 1 assist, 2 steals, +/- of 0, 4.9 game score
Season statistics — 10 games, 6.9 points, 42.9 FG%, 39.6 3FG%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Saturday at Indiana; 10 p.m. Tuesday at Utah, TNT
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
119–94 Friday win at Memphis — 22 minutes, 12 points, 4–7 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, -6, 9.1 game score
Season statistics — 11 games, 7.0 points, 35.4 FG%, 34.0 3FG%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Sunday at Houston; 8 p.m. Monday at Minnesota
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
104–92 Friday win at Houston — 27 minutes, 13 points, 6–10 FG, 1–4 3FG, 0–1 FT, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, +15, 14.5 game score
Season statistics — 13 games, 7.5 points, 52.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Sunday at Denver; 10 p.m. Monday vs. Toronto
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
120–112 Friday win at New Orleans — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 6 games, 2.2 points, 55.6 FG%, 50% 3P%, 2–4 FT, 1.3 reboundsSeason G League statistics — 1 game, 12 points, 4–12 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 13 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 4 blocks
Up next — 7 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma City; 7:30 Tuesday vs. Golden State, TNT
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Recovering from injury
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard (had left shoulder surgery; could return in the next couple of weeks)
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In G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
108–100 Friday win vs. Birmingham (Pelicans affiliate) — Started; 16 points, 4–8 FG, 2–6 3FG, 3–5 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, +8
Season statistics — 3 games, 27.3 points, 59.6% FG, 56.7% 3FG, 71.4 FT%, 10.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals
Up next — 8:30 Saturday vs. Birmingham Squadron
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Theo Pinson, Maine Celtics guard
114–103 Friday loss vs. Delaware (Sixers affiliate) — Started; 25 minutes, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -24
Season statistics — 3 games, 15.3 points, 43.8 FG%, 37.5 3FG%, 88.9 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 steals
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Delaware Blue Coats
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