By R.L. Bynum
In the biggest marquee game of the NBA season, Cameron Johnson played a season-high 29 minutes as his Phoenix Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 104–96 for their franchise-record 17th consecutive victory.
Phoenix tied Golden State for the NBA’s best record at 18–3 with the home win and finished November undefeated at 16–0.
Johnson got more playing time after Devin Booker left in the second quarter with a left hamstring injury.
Johnson scored nine of his 14 points in the second quarter. It was tied for his second-best scoring output of the season after netting 14 at Cleveland on Nov. 24, bested only by his career-high 22 points against Denver on Nov. 21. His 11.9 game score was second only to the 16.2 he put up against Denver.
Johnson started in place of Booker in the second half and finished the game with three 3-pointers, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
With LeBron James out of the Los Angeles Lakers lineup under health-and-safety protocols, Wayne Ellington started for the first time this season Tuesday night in his 15th game.
In a season-high 33 minutes, Ellington collected nine points, three 3-pointers, two assists, three steals and a block as the Lakers beat Sacramento 117–92. Ellington had five points in 15 minutes in Sunday’s 110–106 win at Detroit.
Ellington pushed his career scoring total to 6,003 points and needs one 3-pointer to tie Antawn Jamison for 85th on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers list.
That Kings’ loss Tuesday was the third consecutive game Harrison Barnes has missed with a sprained right foot.
Nassir Little collected seven points, six rebounds and two assists in Portland’s 129–107 Monday loss at Utah. He sprained his left ankle in the second half of that game, though, and missed the Blazers’ 110–92 home win Tuesday over Detroit, arriving at the arena using crutches.
An MRI confirmed the sprain, and he’ll be out at least a week.
There was good news for Cole Anthony, who has missed the last six Orlando games, all losses, with a sprained right ankle. He wasn’t listed on Tuesday’s injury report, meaning he could return for Wednesday’s home game against Denver.
It’s not been a good stretch for Reggie Bullock. In 23 minutes of Dallas’ 114–96 Monday home loss to Cleveland, he missed all three shots and had two rebounds. It was his second scoreless game in the last three heading into Wednesday’s Mavericks game at New Orleans.
Bullock has gone scoreless in four games this season after doing it once last season with the New York Knicks.
Danny Green had five points and three rebounds in Philadelphia’s 101–96 Monday home victory over Orlando.
In Chicago’s 133–119 home win Monday over Charlotte, Coby White had eight points and three rebounds in 21 minutes and Tony Bradley didn’t play.
On Wednesday, White tested positive for COVID-19. He’s fully vaccinated but is entering the NBA’s health-and-safety protocols and won’t travel with the team for road games against the Knicks and Nets.
In the G League on Monday night, Theo Pinson collected 20 points, three 3-pointers, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in the Maine Celtics’ 110–100 victory at Westchester.
(Sunday through Tuesday)
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
101–96 Monday loss at Philadelphia — Missed sixth 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. Denver; 8 p.m. Friday at Houston
———————————————
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
128–101 Sunday loss at Memphis and 110–106 Tuesday loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers — Missed his second and third consecutive game with a sprained right foot
Season statistics — 19 games, 19.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 39.8 3FG%, 84.6 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Up next — 10:30 Wednesday at Los Angeles Clippers, NBATV; 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Los Angeles Clippers
———————————————
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
133–119 Monday win vs. Charlotte — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 17 games, 3.6 points, 55.8 FG%, 4.2 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Thursday at New York, NBATV; 7:30 Saturday at Brooklyn
———————————————
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
114–96 Monday loss vs. Cleveland — 23 minutes, 0 points, 0–3 FG, 0–3 3FG, 0–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, -8, -3.3 game score
Season statistics — 18 games, 5.6 points, 34.9 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 57.1 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Wednesday at New Orleans; 8:30 Friday vs. New Orleans
———————————————
Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
114–96 Monday win at Dallas — 4 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, -5, 0.6 game score
Season statistics — 7 games, 2.1 points, 70.0 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 0.1 of an assist
Up next — 7:30 Wednesday at Miami; 7 p.m. Friday at Washington
———————————————
Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
110–106 Sunday win vs. Detroit — 15 minutes, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1 assist 1 steal, -11, 4.3 game score
117–92 Tuesday win at Sacramento — 33 minutes, 9 points, 3–6 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, +13, 9.8 game score
Season statistics — 14 games, 6.7 points, 40.2 FG%, 39.5 3FG%, 1.6 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN; 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Boston, TNT
———————————————
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
101–96 Monday win vs. Orlando — Started; 23 minutes, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, +1, 5.6 game score
Season statistics — 14 games, 7.8 points, 47.5 FG%, 42.6 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Boston, NBATV; 7:30 Friday at Atlanta, ESPN
———————————————
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
104–96 Tuesday win vs. Golden State — 29 minutes, 14 points, 5–10 FG, 3–7 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, -1, 11.9 game score
Season statistics — 21 games, 8.8 points, 41.1 FG%, 39.0 3FG%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 9 p.m. Thursday vs. Detroit; 10 p.m. Friday at Golden State
———————————————
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
129–107 Monday loss at Utah — 26 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, +/- of 0, 4.4 game score
110–92 Tuesday win vs. Detroit — Missed game with left ankle sprain
Season statistics — 21 games, 8.3 points, 47.8 FG%, 31.7 3P%, 82.8 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. San Antonio, NBATV; 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Boston
———————————————
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
112–110 Tuesday win vs. New York — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 8 games, 2.6 points, 52.9 FG%, 33.3% 3P%, 2–5 FT, 2.1 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. Friday vs. Minnesota; 7:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Chicago
———————————————
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
133–119 Monday win vs. Charlotte — 21 minutes, 8 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3–4 FT, 3 rebounds, -4, 3.6 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 6.1 points, 34.9 FG%, 22.6 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Thursday at New York, NBATV; 7:30 Saturday at Brooklyn
———————————————
In G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
Season statistics — 6 games, 22.5 points, 49.0% FG, 44.6% 3FG, 72.7 FT%, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.7 of a steal
Up next — 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 vs. Austin Spurs
———————————————
Theo Pinson, Maine Celtics guard
110–100 Monday win at Westchester (Knicks affiliate) — Started; 20 points, 5–14 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–5 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, -3
Season statistics — 8 games, 19.1 points, 48.1 FG%, 44.4 3FG%, 89.5 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals
Up next — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 vs. Raptors 905
———————————————
tarheeltribune.com 
