By R.L. Bynum
Sometimes the best individual games in the NBA come in losses and that was the case Monday night for Harrison Barnes and Coby White, whose teams couldn’t overcome big nights from opposing stars.
Barnes scored 23 points and three 3-pointers in Sacramento’s 131–115 home loss to New York and White had 19 points and three 3-pointers in Chicago’s 121–106 defeat at Philadelphia.
The Knicks’ Julius Randle, with 46 points and eight 3-pointers, was too much for the Kings, who gave up a 20-point second-half lead.
“They pretty much got whatever they wanted,” Barnes said of New York’s second-half surge.
Sacramento has had good games but, for the most part, the season has been a struggle. That isn’t keeping Barnes from staying motivated.
“I play for my teammates, I play for my coach and I play for the fans,” he said. “Looking at this environment tonight, it was phenomenal. These fans have been coming here all season, and there’s no sugarcoating that it’s been a tough season. But they’re still continuing to show up every single night, so you owe it to them to prepare the right way, to play the right way.”
In White’s loss, Joel Embiid had 43 points and 14 rebounds as the Sixers moved to 5–0 since acquiring James Harden, who had 16 points and 14 assists.
Danny Green had three points, three rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in 10 minutes before injuring his left middle finger late in the first half. He didn’t play in the second half.
White, who came off the bench for the sixth consecutive game, had four rebounds, two assists and a block.
White and Orlando’s Cole Anthony are tied at 16 points for the fourth-best scoring average since Feb. 1 by a player 21 or younger, along with Kevin Porter Jr. New York’s R.J. Barrett leads that category at 27, followed by Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey at 20 and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton at 18.
White tied Andres Nocioni for ninth on the all-time Bulls 3-pointers list at 403.
Playing for the first time in three games, Tony Bradley was scoreless with a rebound and an assist in six minutes.
The Sixers (40–24) are now three games back of Miami for the Eastern Conference’s best record and the Bulls (39–26) are 4½ games back.
Reggie Bullock had five points, three rebounds, two assists and a block in Dallas’ 111–103 home win over Utah.
In the Los Angeles Lakers’ 117–110 loss at San Antonio, Wayne Ellington didn’t play for the third time in the last four games and 10th time in the last 14.
Ed Davis, playing for only the second time in the last seven Cleveland games, had three points and five rebounds in seven minutes Sunday as host Cavaliers beat Toronto 104–96.
Cameron Johnson missed Phoenix’s 132–122 Sunday loss to Milwaukee and is also out for Tuesday’s game at Orlando with a right quad contusion.
In the G League, Day’Ron Sharpe put up a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out in the Long Island Nets’ 120–119 Sunday home win over the Cleveland Charge.
Justin Jackson scored 32 points and six 3-pointers in 38 minutes Monday in his Texas Legends’ 123–109 loss at Birmingham (the Pelicans’ affiliate.)
(Sunday and Monday)
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Off Sunday and Monday
Season statistics — 51 games, 17.4 points, 39.4 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 85.6 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Phoenix; 8 p.m. Wednesday at New Orleans
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
131–115 Monday loss vs. New York — Started; 37 minutes, 23 points, 7–11 FG, 3–4 3FG, 6–7 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 18.3 game score
Season statistics — 62 games, 17.3 points, 47.3 FG%, 42.1 3FG%, 83.2 FT%, 5.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Up next — 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Denver; 9 p.m. Saturday at Utah
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
121–106 Monday loss at Philadelphia — 6 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 fouls, -9, 0.2 game score
Season statistics — 47 games, 3.0 points, 58.7 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Detroit; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Cleveland
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
111–103 Monday win vs. Utah — Started; 35 minutes, 5 points, 1–5 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, -1, 1.7 game score
Season statistics — 55 games, 8.3 points, 40.4 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assist
Up next — 8:30 Wednesday vs. New York; 8 p.m. Friday at Houston
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Ed Davis, Cleveland Cavaliers center
104–96 Sunday win vs. Toronto — 7 minutes, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–4 FT, 5 rebounds, +10, 4.2 game score
Season statistics — 21 games, 1.1 points, 66.7 FG%, 33.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.2 of an assist
Up next — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Indiana; 8 p.m. Friday at Miami
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
117–110 Monday loss at San Antonio — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
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 p.m. Wednesday at Houston; 10:30 Friday vs. Washington, NBATV
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
121–106 Monday win vs. Chicago — 10 minutes, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, +9, 6.0 game score
Season statistics — 46 games, 6.1 points, 39.8 FG%, 37.6 3FG%, 12–14 FT, 2.4 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Up next — 7:30 Thursday vs. Brooklyn, TNT; 6 p.m. Sunday at Orlando
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
132–122 Sunday loss at Milwaukee — Missed game with right quad contusion
Season statistics — 60 games, 12.8 points, 47.5FG%, 44.8 3FG%, 87.3 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Orlando; 7:30 Wednesday at Miami, ESPN
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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
111–103 Monday win vs. Utah — Not active for game
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 — 8:30 Wednesday vs. New York; 8 p.m. Friday at Houston
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
120–119 Sunday win for Long Island Nets in G League over Cleveland Charge — Started; 35 minutes, 15 points, 7–11 FG, 1–1 3FG, 0–2 FT, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 fouls, 3 turnovers, 3 blocks, +5
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
G League statistics (2021 part of season) — 4 games, 18.0 points, 47.8 FG%, 33.33P%, 85.7 FT%, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 2.6 blocks
G League statistics (2022 part of season) — Sunday’s game was first
Up next — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Charlotte, BSSE; 7:30 Thursday at Philadelphia, TNT
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
121–106 Monday loss at Philadelphia — 34 minutes, 19 points 7–16 FG, 3–9 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, -13, 13.9 game score
Season statistics — 45 games, 13.7 points, 45.1 FG%, 40.1 3P%, 84.8 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Up next — 7 p.m. Wednesday at Detroit; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Cleveland
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In the G League
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
123–109 Monday loss at Birmingham Squadron (Pelicans affiliate) — Started; 38 minutes, 32 points, 10–17 FG, 6–12 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, -6
NBA season statistics — 7 games, 2.1 points, 33.3% FG, 33.3% 3FG, 1.0 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
G League statistics (2022 part of season) — 16 games, 22.7 points, 40.6% FG, 38.6% 3FG, 82.2 FT%, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists
G League statistics (2021 part of season) — 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 — 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday vs. Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz affiliate)
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