By R.L. Bynum
Playing for the Sacramento Kings, some of Harrison Barnes’ best nights this season haven’t always been enough to produce victories. With the trade deadline looming Thursday and his name coming up in trade rumors, that wasn’t the case Saturday.
Barnes collected 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals in one of his best games of the season to lead the Kings to a 113–103 home win over the Oklahoma City, snapping the Thunder’s three-game win streak.
“For us, it’s a matter of playing with force,” Barnes said. “Looking at a lot of our losses, teams frankly are just more physical than we are. When we’re physical and we match the physicality or exceed it, we’re able to execute and everything we do is better.”
Barnes is delivering performances that would make other teams covet him more. Barnes has scored in double figures six consecutive games. He’s scored at least 20 points five times in the last nine games, including the last two after scoring 25 at Golden State on Thursday. He put up a 23.3 game score, his ninth this season of at least 20 and his fourth-best this season.
Barnes said that he’s been through this sort of dynamic ahead of trade deadlines before and that he tries not to let it be a distraction.
“There’s so much that’s out of your control, right? You just never know what may happen,” he said. “And just focusing on every single day going out there and playing, knowing that if you stress about the deadline, you’re stressed about what may happen or what rumors are or who’s in the stands, and then nothing happens? It’s like, oh, I’m worried for three weeks for nothing.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s out of your control, anyway,” Barnes said. “[The decision is] gonna be made the front office. But you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your teammates, just focus on every day.”
Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported that the Utah Jazz has had trade talks regarding Barnes and Detroit’s Jerami Grant. Utah, coached by former Duke player Quin Snyder, has reportedly been interested in Barnes since late January.
Utah’s trade pursuits are hurt by the ACL injury to Joe Ingles, meaning his only value to another team at the trade deadline is that he has an expiring contract.
Another suitor, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, could be the New Orleans Pelicans, who showed interest in Barnes during the offseason
Barnes, 29, is in the third year of a four-year, $85 million contract. From a financial standpoint, he’s attractive because he’ll only make $18.35 million next season.
Sacramento (20–35) led for all but 30 seconds to win for the second time in three games after beating Brooklyn on Wednesday.
It was another rough night for Orlando in a 135–115 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, but it was a productive one for the Magic’s Cole Anthony, who scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half.
Anthony collected two 3-pointers, five rebounds and five assists for a 17.3 game score, his 13th game score of at least 17, after doing that twice during his rookie season.
Anthony will play on James Worthy’s team in the Young Stars game at NBA All-Star Weekend on Feb. 19 and compete in the Slam Dunk contest on Feb. 20.
Cameron Johnson scored 12 points and two 3-pointers in 18 minutes off the bench as the Phoenix Suns won at Washington 95–80. Justin Jackson was scoreless with two assists in eight minutes in his first action since signing a second 10-day contract with Phoenix.
In the Los Angeles Lakers’ 122–115 overtime home win over New York, Wayne Ellington again didn’t get off the bench. It’s the eighth time in the last 11 games that’s happened.
Coby White is listed as questionable for Chicago’s Sunday afternoon home game against Philadelphia with a right adductor strain.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
135–115 loss vs. Memphis — Started; 31 minutes, 22 points, 8–14 FG, 2–3 3FG, 4–4 FG, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers, -9, 17.3 game score
Season statistics — 40 games, 17.9 points, 39.0 FG%, 32.2 3FG%, 84.8 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Boston; 10 p.m. Tuesday at Portland
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
113–103 win vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 37 minutes, 24 points, 8–17 FG, 2–6 3FG, 6–9 FT, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, -2, 23.3 game score
Season statistics — 50 games, 16.8 points, 45.6 FG%, 40.6 3FG%, 81.5 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Minnesota
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 38 games, 3.4 points, 58.0 FG%, 76.5 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 3:30 Sunday vs. Philadelphia; 8 p.m. Monday vs. Phoenix, NBATV
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 45 games, 7.5 points, 40.3 FG%, 34.2 3P%, 84.4 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Atlanta, ESPN; 8:30 Tuesday vs. Detroit
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 16 games, 1.3 points, 64.3 FG%, 37.5 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist
Up next — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana; 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. San Antonio
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
122–115 OT win vs. New York — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 33 games, 6.2 points, 39.5 FG%, 38.8 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Milwaukee, TNT; 10 p.m. Wednesday at Portland
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 34 games, 6.8 points, 41.0 FG%, 38.4 3FG%, 12–14 FT, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Up next — 3:30 Sunday at Chicago; 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Phoenix
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Justin Jackson, Phoenix Suns forward
95–80 win at Washington — 8 minutes, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2 assists, -13, -2.5 game score
NBA season statistics — 6 games, 2.5 points, 38.5% FG, 37.5% 3FG, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
G League season statistics— 18 games, 23.3 points, 43.3% FG, 40.4% 3FG, 82.6 FT%, 7.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Monday at Chicago, NBATV; 7 p.m. Tuesday at Philadelphia
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
95–80 win at Washington — 18 minutes, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, +13, 9.9 game score
Season statistics — 48 games, 12.1 points, 46.3 FG%, 43.6 3FG%, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Monday at Chicago, NBATV; 7 p.m. Tuesday at Philadelphia
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Likely out for the season with a labral tear in his left shoulder
Season statistics — 42 games, 9.8 points, 46.0 FG%, 33.1 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Off Saturday
NBA season statistics — 15 games, 1.9 points, 30.0 FG%, 26.1 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1.2 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 — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Atlanta, ESPN; 8:30 Tuesday vs. Detroit
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Off Saturday
Season NBA statistics — 24 games, 6.5 points, 58.5 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 66.7% FT, 5.0 rebounds, 0.4 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 — 3:30 Sunday at Denver, NBATV; 7:30 Tuesday vs. Boston, TNT
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Off Saturday
Season statistics — 33 games, 12.9 points, 43.8 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Up next — 3:30 Sunday vs. Philadelphia; 8 p.m. Monday vs. Phoenix, NBATV
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