By R.L. Bynum
It’s a crazy time in the NBA, with numerous players in the league’s health-and-safety protocols and the ones who play dealing with depleted rosters.
Four former UNC players are in the protocols after Philadelphia’s Danny Green and Cleveland’s Ed Davis on Wednesday joined Dallas’ Reggie Bullock and Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe.
A fifth former Carolina player, Chicago’s Coby White, went into the protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 1 and finally played again for the Bulls on Sunday and Monday. Chicago’s scheduled game Wednesday with Toronto was postponed, though, and its next scheduled game isn’t until Sunday at home against Indiana.
Harrison Barnes played Wednesday in Sacramento’s 105–89 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, but interim coach Alvin Gentry and seven teammates are in the protocols and missed the game. The Kings were without De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell, Marvin Bagley III, Terence Davis, Alex Len, Louis King and Neemias Queta.
That meant a heavy workload for Barnes, who played more than 37 minutes for the third consecutive game after doing so only five times in his previous 25 games this season.
Barnes contributed 18 points and four rebounds in 40 minutes.
Like last season, there are rumors that Sacramento may want to trade Barnes. It never happened last season but the possible destinations this season are Cleveland, Minnesota, New York or Philadelphia (the latter involving Ben Simmons).
Cole Anthony missed his third consecutive game with a right ankle sprain, an injury that also cost him six November games. Orlando won at Atlanta 104–98.
In Justin Jackson’s third Boston game since signing a 10-day contract last weekend, he finally played. In one minute, Jackson scored two points in the Celtics’ 111–101 home win over Cleveland. The Cavaliers obviously were without Davis.
Nassir Little missed Portland’s loss Tuesday at New Orleans with a non-COVID-19-related illness. He gets more time to get healthy, though, because the Blazers’ scheduled Thursday night home game with Brooklyn was postponed.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
104–98 win at Atlanta — Missed third consecutive game with a right ankle sprain
Season statistics — 23 games, 19.9 points, 41.7 FG%, 36.6 3FG%, 87.6 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. New Orleans; 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Miami
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
105–89 loss vs. Los Angeles Clippers — Started; 40 minutes, 18 points, 7–15 FG, 3–8 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 9.1 game score
Season statistics — 28 games, 17.5 points, 45.2 FG%, 39.1 3FG%, 84.5 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Memphis; 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
vs. Toronto — Postponed
Season statistics — 23 games, 3.7 points, 57.4 FG%, 4.4 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana; 7:30 Monday at Atlanta, NBATV
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Team off Wednesday; Bullock in NBA’s health-and-safety protocols
Season statistics — 27 games, 5.8 points, 36.4 FG%, 28.3 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Up next — 8:30 Thursday vs. Milwaukee, NBATV; 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Utah, ESPN
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
111–101 loss at Boston — Missed game; Davis in NBA’s health-and-safety protocols
Season statistics — 11 games, 1.7 points, 75.0 FG%, 25.0 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 0.1 of an assist
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Toronto; 8 p.m. Tuesday at New Orleans
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 24 games, 6.5 points, 38.5 FG%, 38.1 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Up next — 10:30 Thursday vs. San Antonio; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Brooklyn, ABC (WTVD in Triangle), ESPN
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off Wednesday; Green in NBA’s health-and-safety protocols
Season statistics — 24 games, 7.1 points, 40.6 FG%, 37.4 3FG%, 8–8 FT, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Atlanta; 6 p.m. Sunday at Washington
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Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
111–101 win vs. Cleveland — (season NBA debut) 1 minute, 2 points, 0–1 FG, 2–2 FT, -5
G League season statistics for Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) — 10 games, 22.7 points, 47.3% FG, 41.4% 3FG, 79.2 FT%, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals
Up next — 2:30 Saturday at Milwaukee, ABC (WTVD in Triangle); 8 p.m. Monday at Minnesota
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 30 games, 10.4 points, 42.5 FG%, 41.4 3FG%, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 9 p.m. Thursday vs. Oklahoma City; 5 p.m. Saturday vs. Golden State, ABC (WTVD in Triangle)
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 27 games, 8.5 points, 47.7 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 75.9 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Monday vs. Dallas; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Utah
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Off Wednesday
NBA season statistics — 1 game, 7 points, 2–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
G League season statistics with Maine Celtics — 13 games, 15.1 points, 43.4 FG%, 40.6 3FG%, 88.5 FT%, 6.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Up next — 8:30 Thursday vs. Milwaukee, NBATV; 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Utah, ESPN
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Team off Wednesday; Sharpe in NBA’s health-and-safety protocolsSeason NBA statistics — 10 games, 3.1 points, 59.1 FG%, 33.3% 3P%, 4–11 FT, 2.9 rebounds
Season G League statistics — 4 games, 18.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 33.33P%, 85.7 FT%, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 2.6 blocks
Up next — 8 p.m. Saturday at Los Angeles Lakers, ABC (WTVD in Triangle), ESPN; 10:30 at Los Angeles Clippers, NBATV
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
vs. Toronto — Postponed
Season statistics — 11 games, 7.6 points, 36.5 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana; 7:30 Monday at Atlanta, NBATV
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