By R.L. Bynum
Harrison Barnes and Cole Anthony both played well on Wednesday night but, as with many nights with their struggling teams, their efforts came in defeats.
One night after scoring four points in one of his worst games of the season, Barnes rebounded with 28 points in the Kings’ 121–104 loss at Atlanta for their fifth consecutive defeat and 10th in a row on the road.
Barnes’ 23.7 game score was his third-highest this season and seventh of at least 20.
Sacramento (18–32) couldn’t recover from being outscored 46–17 in the second quarter one day after losing 128–75 at Boston.
“Same old story tonight,” Barnes said. “Three decent quarters and one quarter got away from us. This team is not the least talented team I’ve been on. That’s what’s frustrating. It’s a matter of finding our collective competitive spirit. That’s the biggest thing right now. Energy is contagious.”
It was the third-best scoring output of the season for Barnes, who had three 3-pointers and nine rebounds in addition to making 11 of 12 free-throw attempts. He has 952 career 3-pointers.
“We haven’t stopped anybody,” Barnes said. “Everyone we’re playing is having career nights. Everyone we’re playing is having a field day.”
Anthony put up a double-double, his sixth of the season, with 19 points and a career-high-tying 11 assists, his third time with that total, against two turnovers in Orlando’s 111–102 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He had two 3-pointers, six rebounds, two assists and a block.
Anthony’s 22.3 game score was his seven of at least 20 this season after doing it only twice during his rookie season.
The Clippers rallied from 14 points down after staging the second-largest comeback in NBA history the night before. Los Angeles beat Washington after trailing by 35 points.
Los Angeles took control after Orlando (9–40) owned a 78–76 lead after three quarters.
“We messed up on our part by less than two minutes into the [fourth] quarter putting them in a bonus and that kind of changes our whole game plan because, at that point, we can’t be as aggressive defensively as we want to,” Anthony said. “Also in the second half, they got more aggressive. And I think they just outworked us.”
Reggie Bullock scored 15 points on four 3-pointers and had four rebounds and a block in Dallas’ 132–112 road victory over Portland. It was his best scoring output since scoring 15 at Houston on Jan. 7 and his fifth game this season with at least four 3-pointers.
The 25 minutes were his most since playing 27 on Jan. 5. He may get more time for the next few weeks after Tim Hardaway fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot in Tuesday’s loss at Golden State.
Bullock’s 12.5 game score was his seventh this season of at least 10 but first since putting up a 14.9 in a 15-point game at Houston on Jan. 7.
Theo Pinson was scoreless with a rebound in two minutes for Dallas (28–21).
Portland’s Nassir Little missed the game with a left shoulder strain suffered late in Tuesday’s home loss to Minnesota.
In Coby White’s second consecutive game coming off the bench, he scored nine points in 24 minutes in Chicago’s 111–105 home victory over Toronto. That was White’s fewest minutes in nine games, since playing 23 minutes and scoring 13 points on Jan. 11 in a home win over Detroit.
White notched a 3-pointer to tie Tony Kukoc for 11th on the Bulls’ all-time list at 351.
For the second time in four games, Tony Bradley didn’t play (coach’s decision).
Chicago (30–17) is second in the Eastern Conference, a half-game back of Miami.
Cameron Johnson, starting for the second consecutive game, collected eight points, two 3-pointers, six rebounds, an assist and a steal in Phoenix’s 105–97 road victory over Utah. The Suns (38–9) have the league’s best record by 3½ games over Golden State.
Ed Davis was scoreless in one minute of Cleveland’s 115–99 home win over Milwaukee.
Day’Ron Sharpe missed Brooklyn’s 124–118 home loss to Denver with a non-COVID-19-related illness.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
111–102 loss vs. Los Angeles Clippers — Started; 32 minutes, 19 points, 5–11 FG, 2–5 3FG, 7–7 FT, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, -1, 22.3 game score
Season statistics — 35 games, 18.0 points, 39.5 FG%, 33.1 3FG%, 83.9 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Detroit; 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Dallas
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
121–104 loss at Atlanta — Started; 36 minutes, 28 points, 7–14 FG, 3–5 3FG, 11–12 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, -2
Season statistics — 45 games, 16.5 points, 45.0 FG%, 41.1 3FG%, 83.4 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Up next — 7:30 Saturday at Philadelphia; 7:30 Monday at New York
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
111–105 win vs. Toronto — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 33 games, 3.5 points, 56.5 FG%, 76.5 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 8:30 Friday at San Antonio; 3:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Portland
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
132–112 win at Portland — 24 minutes, 15 points, 5–8 FG, 4–7 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 block, +21, 12.5 game score
Season statistics — 41 games, 6.4 points, 38.8 FG%, 31.9 3P%, 77.3 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Indiana; 7 p.m. Sunday at Orlando
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
115–99 win vs. Milwaukee — 1 minute, no statistics, +2, 0.0 game score
Season statistics — 15 games, 1.4 points, 64.3 FG%, 37.5 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday at Detroit; 7 p.m. Monday vs. New Orleans
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 31 games, 6.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 38.4 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.6 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 7:30 Thursday at Philadelphia, TNT; 7:30 Friday at Charlotte, ESPN, BSSE
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 29 games, 6.7 points, 40.7 FG%, 38.1 3FG%, 9–10 FT, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Up next — 7:30 Thursday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, TNT; 7:30 Saturday vs. Sacramento
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
105–97 win at Utah — Started; 36 minutes, 8 points, 3–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, +4, 7.0 game score
Season statistics — 44 games, 11.8 points, 45.4 FG%, 43.1 3FG%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 9 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota; 8 p.m. Sunday vs. San Antonio
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
132–112 loss vs. Dallas — Missed game with a left shoulder strain suffered on Tuesday night
Season statistics — 42 games, 9.8 points, 46.0 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Friday at Houston; 3:30 Sunday at Chicago
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
132–112 win at Portland — 2 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 rebound, +/- of 0, -0.4 game score
NBA season statistics — 14 games, 1.8 points, 27.6 FG, 22.7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
G League season statistics — 13 games, 15.4 points, 40.6 FG%, 39.2 3FG%, 83.3 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Up next — Mavs play at7 p.m. Saturday vs. Indiana; Texas Legends play at 8:30 Saturday vs. South Bay Lakers
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
124–118 loss vs. Denver — Missed game with a non-COVID-19-related illness
Season NBA statistics — 22 games, 6.5 points, 58.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 65.2% FT, 5.0 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
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 — 8:30 Saturday at Golden State, ABC; 10 p.m. Tuesday at Phoenix, TNT
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
111–105 win vs. Toronto — 24 minutes, 9 points, 4–10 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, -9, 3.5 game score
Season statistics — 29 games, 12.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 34.8 3P%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Up next — 8:30 Friday at San Antonio; 3:30 p.m. Sunday vs. Portland
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In the G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends (Mavericks affiliate) forward
Off Wednesday
NBA season statistics — 4 games, 3.8 points, 62.5% FG, 60% 3FG, 1.5 rebounds
G League season statistics— 17 games, 23.3 points, 44.4% FG, 41.1% 3FG, 81.0 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Up next — 8:30 Saturday vs. South Bay Lakers; 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, vs. Stockton Kings
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