By R.L. Bynum
Harrison Barnes nearly equaled his point total from the first three games with 20 points on Thursday night, the second-best total by a UNC alum this season, to shake out of his early-season offensive struggles.
That wasn’t enough, though, to keep Sacramento Kings from falling to 0–4 as the Kings lost at home to the 4–1 Memphis Grizzlies 125–110.
“It was just the little things that killed us,” Barnes said. “Offensive rebounds, I feel like every time they got one, it’s a 3. Some of the 50/50 balls, playing a team like this, we have to cut down on the mistakes. The theme in a lot of these games is close but not enough and, eventually, we’ve got to get over the hump.”
Barnes, who was 7 of 19 from the floor for 21 points combined in the first three games, was 6 of 12 from the floor with one 3-pointer, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. He put up a season-high 15.6 game score.
“It’s a long season. There’s going to be highs and lows,” said Barnes, who got off only one shot and scored four points in Sunday’s 130–125 loss at Golden State. “Tonight, the ball was finding me, maybe some other games it wasn’t. But our objective as a team remains the same. We’re going to have enough people to go out there and score. But our mental focus, especially rebounding, has to be better.”
The only point total higher by a Tar Heel this season was the 25 points against Atlanta on Oct. 21 by Orlando’s Cole Anthony, who is out indefinitely with a right internal oblique muscle injury. The 0–5 Magic were already without guards Markelle Fultz (left big toe fracture) and Jalen Suggs (right ankle sprain).
The Dallas Mavericks evened their record at 2–2 and dropped the Brooklyn Nets to 1–4 with a 129–125 overtime road victory Thursday behind Luka Doncic’s 41 points in a triple-double.
Bullock took a Doncic pass and missed a 23-foot 3-point attempt from the corner at the regulation buzzer that would have won the game. Bullock made up for it by making a 26-foot 3-point attempt with 3:10 left in overtime to give Dallas a 123–114 edge.
In 42 minutes, Bullock collected nine points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds and two steals on 3 of 7 shooting for a season-high 8.3 game score.
Neither Dallas’ Theo Pinson nor the Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe played in the game (coach’s decision.) That was the first time Sharpe hasn’t gotten off the bench this season after playing at least 10 minutes and as much as 22 in the first four games.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 4 games, 15.5 points, 41.5 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 1.0 steal
Next games — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Charlotte, Bally Sports Southeast; 7:30 Sunday at Dallas
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
125–110 Thursday loss vs. Memphis — Started; 37 minutes, 20 points, 6–12 FG, 1–4 3FG, 7–8 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -12
Season statistics — 4 games, 10.3 points, 41.9 FG%, 1 of 9 3FG, 66.7 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Next games — 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Miami; 7 p.m. Monday at Charlotte, Bally Sports Southeast
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 24 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 2 games, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1.5 rebounds
Next games — 8:30 Friday at San Antonio; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia, NBATV
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
129–125 Thursday OT win at Brooklyn — Started; 42 minutes, 9 points, 3–7 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, +7
Season statistics — 4 games, 7.5 points, 38.5 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games — 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Oklahoma City; 7:30 Sunday vs. Orlando
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Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
Off Thursday
Season statistics (1 game) — 5 minutes, 6 points, 2–3 FG, 2–2 3FG, +3
Next games — 7:30 Friday vs. Cleveland; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Washington
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns power forward
Age 26 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 4 games, 10.0 points, 38.5 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday vs. New Orleans, ESPN; 9 p.m. Sunday vs. Houston
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Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 5 games, 5.8 points, 62.5 FG, 60.0 FT, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.6 blocks
Next games — 9 p.m. Friday at Denver; 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Memphis
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers small forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 5 games, 5.8 points, 54.5 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 2.2 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Houston; 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Memphis, ESPN
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
129–125 Thursday OT win at Brooklyn — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics (1 game) — 7 minutes, 2 points, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, +8, 3.3 game score
Next games — 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Oklahoma City; 7:30 Sunday vs. Orlando
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 20 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
129–125 Thursday OT loss vs. Dallas — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 4 games, 4.0 points, 37.5 FG%, 0–1 3P%, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 block, 1.3 of an assist
Next games — 7:30 Saturday vs. Indiana; 7:30 Monday vs. Indiana, NBATV
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Off Thursday
Season statistics — 4 games, 6.3 points, 34.6 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 1.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Next games — 8:30 Friday at San Antonio; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia, NBATV
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Out while recovering from surgery
Memphis forward Danny Green will miss most of the season after surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered in May.
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Get an explanation of the game score metric here.
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