By R.L. Bynum
Nassir Little continues to bring energy off the bench for the Portland Trail Blazers, and that’s one reason they have won four consecutive games and five out of the last six.
Little scored a season-high-tying 13 points in 23 minutes Tuesday night in the Blazers’ 119–100 home win over Denver to give the Nuggets their fifth consecutive victory. Little also had 13 at Houston on Nov. 12 and at Denver on Nov. 14.
Little, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell are the core of Portland’s second unit that, along with Anfernee Simons, have Portland (10–8) on a roll.
It was Little’s second consecutive double-figure scoring game and fourth in his last six games. The 11.9 game score was second only this season to the 14.5 he put up on Nov. 12 at Houston.
Three other Tar Heels have missed games early this week: Cole Anthony, Reggie Bullock and Danny Green.
Anthony missed his second consecutive game, the Magic’s 123–92 Monday loss at Milwaukee, with a sprained right ankle.
Bullock was sidelined for a non-COVID-19-related illness for Dallas’ 112–104 Tuesday road win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Green missed his fourth consecutive game, Philadelphia’s 102–94 Monday win at Sacramento, as he battles left hamstring tightness.
In that Kings’ loss, Harrison Barnes had 10 points, five rebounds and a season-low 5.0 game score in their fourth consecutive defeat. That was the first game since Sacramento (6–12) fired Luke Walton and made Alvin Gentry the interim coach.
One night after scoring a career-high 22 points, Cameron Johnson was 1 of 6 from the floor and scored three points in 22 minutes in Phoenix’s 115–111 Monday win at San Antonio. It was the 13th consecutive victory for the Suns (14–3).
After scoring 14 points one evening earlier, Coby White was 2 of 10 from the floor with four points, five rebounds and three assists in Chicago’s 109–77 home loss Monday to Indiana. Tony Bradley had six points and five rebounds in 17 minutes.
In Brooklyn’s 117–112 Monday win over Cleveland, Ed Davis was scoreless in eight minutes and Day’Ron Sharpe didn’t play.
(Monday and Tuesday)
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
123–92 Monday loss at Milwaukee — Missed second consecutive game with a sprained right ankle
Season statistics — 15 games, 19.9 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.3 3FG%, 86.7 FT%, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Charlotte, BSSE; 7 p.m. Friday vs. Chicago
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
102–94 Monday loss vs. Philadelphia — Started, 10 points, 2–8 FG, 1–5 3FG, 5–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, -17, 5.0 game score
Season statistics — 18 games, 19.3 points, 47.5 FG%, 40.0 3FG%, 86.2 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Portland; 10:30 Friday at Los Angeles Lakers
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
109–77 Monday loss vs. Indiana — 17 minutes, 6 points, 3–4 FG, 5 rebounds, -15, 5.5 game score
Season statistics — 15 games, 3.9 points, 55.1 FG%, 4.5 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Houston; 7 p.m. Friday at Orlando
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
112–104 Tuesday win at Los Angeles Clippers — Missed game with an illness that isn’t COVID-19 related
Season statistics — 16 games, 5.9 points, 36.4 FG%, 28.4 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Up next — 8:30 Saturday vs. Memphis; 8:30 Monday vs. Cleveland
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
117–112 Monday loss vs. Brooklyn — 8 minutes, 0 points, 1 steal, -11, 1.0 game score
Season statistics — 6 games, 2.2 points, 66.7 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Phoenix; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Orlando
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
106–100 Tuesday loss at New York — 17 minutes, 4 points, 1–3 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebound, 2 turnovers, -7, 0.6 game score
Season statistics — 11 games, 6.0 points, 33.3 FG%, 33.9 3FG%, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Indiana; 10:30 Friday vs. Sacramento
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
102–94 Monday win at Sacramento — Missed fourth consecutive game with left hamstring tightness
Season statistics — 11 games, 7.5 points, 45.2 FG%, 41.8 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Wednesday at Golden State, ESPN; 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Minnesota
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
115–111 Monday win at San Antonio — 22 minutes, 3 points, 1–6 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +18, 1.9 game score
Season statistics — 17 games, 8.1 points, 39.4 FG%, 36.7 3FG%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cleveland; 7 p.m. Friday at New York
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
119–100 Tuesday win vs. Denver — 23 minutes, 13 points, 5–9 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, +3, 11.9 game score
Season statistics — 18 games, 8.2 points, 49.1 FG%, 31.5 3P%, 80.8 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Wednesday at Sacramento; 10 p.m. Friday at Golden State
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
117–112 Monday win at Cleveland — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 7 games, 2.4 points, 50.0 FG%, 33.3% 3P%, 2–4 FT, 2.3 rebounds
Season G League statistics — 2 games, 15.5 points, 4–12 FG, 40.9 3P%, 71.4 FT%, 12.5 rebounds, 4 steals, 6 blocks
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Boston, ESPN; 7:30 Saturday vs. Phoenix, NBATV
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
109–77 Monday loss vs. Indiana — 24 minutes, 4 points, 2–10 FG, 0–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, -12, 0.8 game score
Season statistics — 5 games, 4.0 points, 25.0 FG%, 21.4 3P%, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Houston; 7 p.m. Friday at Orlando
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In G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
Season statistics — 4 games, 23.8 points, 55.9% FG, 52.6% 3FG, 62.5 FT%, 9.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Up next — 8:30 Friday and Saturday vs. Greensboro (Hornets affiliate)
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Theo Pinson, Maine Celtics guard
Season statistics — 6 games, 17.7 points, 49.3 FG%, 43.6 3FG%, 91.7 FT%, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals
Up next — 7 p.m. Saturday and Monday at Westchester (Knicks affiliate)
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