By R.L. Bynum
With it appearing more likely that Harrison Barnes won’t get traded before the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline, he continues to be on a roll for the Sacramento Kings.
One night after scoring 21 points in a 20-point loss to Minnesota, Barnes scored 30 in a 132–119 victory Wednesday over the Timberwolves in his second-best game of the season. In those two games, Barnes made all 12 free-throw attempts and is shooting 82.9% from the line for the season.
According to reporter Marc Stein, the Kings have told other teams that they plan to keep Barnes and try to earn their first playoff spot in 15 seasons. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, however, says that if Sacramento were to deal Barnes on Thursday, they want a return that will help the current roster and not a future-based package.
The Kings are 21–36, but are only 2½ games out of the 10th spot in the Western Conference. Seeds 7 through 10 in each conference will be involved in a play-in tournament.
Barnes added four 3-pointers, eight rebounds and three assists for a 28.6 game score, bested this season only by the 33.2 in his 36-point game at Portland on opening night. It was Barnes’ sixth game this season with at least four 3-pointers, 14th with at least eight rebounds and 25th with at least three assists.
Sacramento got a boost from Domantas Sabonis, who had 22 points and 14 rebounds in his first game since being traded from the Indiana Pacers.
Coby White was back in Chicago’s starting lineup and scored 15 points in the Bulls’ 121–109 win at Charlotte for the Hornets’ sixth consecutive loss.
White started for the first time since Jan. 23 after coming off the bench in seven consecutive games because rookie Ayo Dosunmu, who had been starting ahead of him, is out with a concussion.
White took advantage of his opportunity with three 3-pointers, three rebounds, three assists and a block to give him his third consecutive double-figure scoring game and fifth in the last six games.
White has heard his name mentioned as the trade deadline approached but said he isn’t worried about leaving Chicago.
“It’s not something I can control,” White said. “I obviously love this team and we have a chance to be special, so it gives me an edge at the end of the day.”
His chances of getting traded likely were reduced significantly when Lonzo Ball suffered a left knee injury that could keep him out until the end of March. Chicago (34–21) is third in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the Miami Heat.
Tony Bradley scored two points in 10 minutes for Chicago.
After not playing in the previous five games and nine of the previous 12, Wayne Ellington scored nine points and three 3-pointers in 15 minutes during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 107–105 loss at Portland. In his last two games, Ellington is 6 of 11 from 3-point range.
Ed Davis was scoreless in two minutes of Cleveland’s 105–92 home win over San Antonio.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 42 games, 17.8 points, 39.2 FG%, 32.7 3FG%, 85.1 FT%, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists
Up next — 9 p.m. Friday at Utah; 9 p.m. Saturday at Phoenix
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
132–119 win vs. Minnesota — Started; 36 minutes, 30 points, 8–11 FG, 4–5 3FG, 10–10 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +8, 28.6 game score
Season statistics — 52 games, 17.1 points, 46.2 FG%, 41.2 3FG%, 82.9 FT%, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Saturday at Washington; 7:30 Monday at Brooklyn
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
121–109 win at Charlotte — 10 minutes, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 0–2 FT, 1 rebound, -7, 0.1 game score
Season statistics — 41 games, 3.3 points, 58.1 FG%, 70.0 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Up next — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Oklahoma City
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 47 games, 7.9 points, 41.1 FG%, 35.8 3P%, 84.4 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 8:30 Thursday and Saturday vs. Los Angeles Clippers
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
105–92 win vs. San Antonio — 2 minutes, 0 points, -3, 0.0 game score
Season statistics — 18 games, 1.2 points, 64.3 FG%, 37.5 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday at Indiana; 7:30 Saturday at Philadelphia
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
107–105 loss at Portland — 15 minutes, 9 points, 3–6 FG, 3–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, +2, 8.4 game score
Season statistics — 34 games, 6.3 points, 39.9 FG%, 39.2 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Up next — 8:30 Saturday at Golden State, ABC; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Utah, ESPN
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 36 games, 6.8 points, 41.2 FG%, 38.6 3FG%, 12–14 FT, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Oklahoma City; 7:30 Saturday vs. Cleveland
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Justin Jackson, Phoenix Suns forward
Off Wednesday
NBA season statistics — 7 games, 2.1 points, 33.3% FG, 33.3% 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 — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Milwaukee, TNT; 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Orlando
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Wednesday
Season statistics — 51 games, 11.9 points, 45.6 FG%, 42.9 3FG%, 84.9 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Milwaukee, TNT; 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Orlando
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers wing
Is out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum 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 Wednesday
NBA season statistics — 16 games, 1.8 points, 28.1 FG%, 24.0 3FG, 4–4 FT, 1.2 rebounds, 0.8 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 — 8:30 Thursday and Saturday vs. Los Angeles Clippers
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Off Wednesday
Season NBA statistics — 26 games, 6.2 points, 56.3 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 60.0% FT, 5.0 rebounds, 0.5 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 — 7:30 Thursday at Washington, TNT; 8 p.m. Saturday at Miami
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
121–109 win at Charlotte — Started; 38 minutes, 15 points, 6–14 FG, 3–10 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, +19, 10.5 game score
Season statistics — 35 games, 12.9 points, 43.7 FG%, 36.2 3P%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Oklahoma City
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