By R.L. Bynum
It was a big night in Texas for a pair of Tar Heels as Harrison Barnes scored 27 points in Sacramento’s victory at San Antonio and Reggie Bullock had a good all-around game in Dallas’ home victory over Golden State.
Barnes collected four 3-pointers, five rebounds and two assists while making 11 of his career-high-tying 14 free-throw attempts in the Kings’ 115–112 win. The victory capped a crazy 24 hours for Sacramento full of plenty of frustrations.
Sacramento’s win came one night after losing by 30 points at New Orleans. That loss assured that the Kings (24–41) would have a losing season.
“I think the biggest thing for us was, looking at [Wednesday] night, that was a very important game for us and we didn’t rise to the occasion,” Barnes said. “We kind of let the game slip away in the second half. So, coming into this game tonight, we knew that, regardless of the situation, the travel, fatigue, whatever it may be, we just wanted to try to do what we can to get a win and keep our season afloat, and that’s what we did.”
Because of mechanical issues with the Kings’ plane, the team stayed in New Orleans on Wednesday night and didn’t travel to San Antonio until Thursday. Barnes said the crazy 24 hours presented plenty of challenges.
“Today was definitely different,” he said. “There was that outlet pass that [De’Aaron] Fox threw to me, and mentally I caught that ball, but physically it just was not happening. So, there were definitely some moments in that game where you just have the flight and the travel that you’re trying to stay with it. But I’m just proud of our group for being able to come out here and get this win.”
Barnes’ 22.0 game score was his seventh of at least 22 this season after six such games all of last season.
Sacramento took control with an 11–1 run that gave the Kings a 110–104 advantage minutes after the Spurs took their first lead.
“For us to come out and get three or four straight stops in a row, that’s something that we haven’t usually done, especially down the stretch,” Barnes said. “I thought that was a step for us tonight.”
Bullock had 14 points, four 3-pointers, three rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block to help Dallas beat the Warriors 122–113, its second win over the Warriors in five days. Luka Doncic led Dallas with 41 points.
For much of the game, Bullock guarded Stephen Curry, limiting him to 21 points.
The Mavericks (38–25) have won three consecutive games and are fifth in the Western Conference.
Coach Jason Kidd continues to give Bullock a bigger role on the team. He played a team-high 42 minutes against Golden State, the most playing time for him this season, and has averaged 36.5 minutes in the four games since the All-Star break.
Golden State has dropped a season-worst three consecutive games and seven of the last nine games to fall 7½ games behind Cameron Johnson’s Phoenix Suns.
Coby White came off the bench to score 15 points and three 3-pointers in 26 minutes of Chicago’s 130–124 loss at Atlanta. For the third time in five games, Tony Bradley didn’t play (coach’s decision.)
Wayne Ellington had an efficient 12 points and two 3-pointers in 11 minutes off the bench, all in the second half, as the Los Angeles Lakers lost 132–111 to the Los Angeles Clippers for their fourth consecutive defeat. Ellington was a team-high +14.
Ellington played for only the fourth time in the Lakers’ last 12
In Brooklyn’s 113–107 home loss to Miami, Day’Ron Sharpe didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the third time in the last four games.
In the G League, Justin Jackson contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in his Texas Legends’ 120–117 road win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce (the Heat’s affiliate.)
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 49 games, 17.4 points, 39.4 FG%, 33.0 3FG%, 85.7 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists
Up next — 7:30 Friday at Toronto; 8 p.m. Saturday at Memphis
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
115–112 win at San Antonio — Started; 39 minutes, 27 points, 6–8 FG, 4–5 3FG, 11–14 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 5 turnovers, +14, 22.0 game score
Season statistics — 60 games, 17.4 points, 47.2 FG%, 41.7 3FG%, 83.3 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 5 p.m. Saturday at Dallas; 10:30 Monday vs. New York
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
130–124 loss at Atlanta — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 46 games, 3.1 points, 58.7 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Up next — 7:30 Friday vs. Milwaukee, ESPN; 7 p.m. Monday at Philadelphia
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
122–113 win vs. Golden State — Started; 42 minutes, 14 points, 4–14 FG, 4–12 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, +4, 13.2 game score
Season statistics — 53 games, 8.4 points, 40.6 FG%, 36.2 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assist
Up next — 5 p.m. Saturday vs. Sacramento; 8:30 Monday vs. Utah
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 20 games, 1.1 points, 64.3 FG%, 37.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday at Philadelphia; 7:30 Sunday vs. Toronto, ESPN
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
132–111 loss at Los Angeles Clippers — 11 minutes, 12 points, 5–5 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 10.4 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 6.4 points, 39.1 FG%, 39.1 3FG%, 4–5 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Up next — 8:30 Saturday vs. Golden State, ABC; 8:30 Monday at San Antonio
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 43 games, 6.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 37.6 3FG%, 12–14 FT, 2.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Cleveland; 8 p.m. Saturday at Miami
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 59 games, 12.4 points, 46.9FG%, 43.7 3FG%, 87.2 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Friday vs. New York, ESPN; 3:30 Sunday at Milwaukee, ABC
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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
122–113 win vs. Golden State — Missed game with fracture of right fifth finger
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 — 14 games, 15.7 points, 40.4 FG%, 38.6 3FG%, 84.8 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals
Up next — 5 p.m. Saturday vs. Sacramento; 8:30 Monday vs. Utah
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
113–107 loss vs. Miami — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season NBA statistics — 32 games, 6.2 points, 57.7 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 58.5% 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 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Boston, ABC; 7 p.m. Tuesday at Charlotte, BSSE
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
130–124 loss at Atlanta — 26 minutes, 15 points, 6–8 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1 rebound, 5 assists, +17, 15.2 game score
Season statistics — 43 games, 13.8 points, 45.3 FG%, 40.6 3P%, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Up next — 7:30 Friday vs. Milwaukee, ESPN; 7 p.m. Monday at Philadelphia
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In the G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
120–117 win at Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat affiliate)— Started; 36 points, 11 points, 4–15 FG, 3–8 3FG, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, +10
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 (2022) — 14 games, 22.4 points, 39.5% FG, 38.2% 3FG, 82.5 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Up next — 8 p.m. Friday at Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat affiliate); noon Monday at Birmingham Squadron (Pelicans affiliate)
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