Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson scores 19, five 3-pointers in Phoenix win

By R.L. Bynum

Like so many times last season, the Phoenix Suns rolled and Cameron Johnson kept pouring in the 3-pointers.

Johnson scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and pulled down seven rebounds, all three season-highs, as the Suns rolled to a 124–109 home victory Sunday night over the Houston Rockets.

Johnson has multiple 3-pointers in four of his six games as Phoenix is tied for the early Western Conference lead at 5–1. He had at least five 3-pointers five times last season.

Johnson, who tied Wesley Person for 10th on the all-time Suns 3-pointers list with 404, scored Phoenix’s first two field goals and, at one point, led Houston by himself 5–2. He also showed off his dunking skills.


The Dallas Mavericks split a pair of weekend home games, losing 117–111 in overtime Saturday to Oklahoma City and winning 114–105 against Orlando on Sunday.

Reggie Bullock had two 3-pointers in both games, collecting seven points against the Thunder with four rebounds and scoring six points against the Magic. Theo Pinson didn’t play in either game (coach’s decision).

Cole Anthony is out of the Magic lineup indefinitely with a right internal oblique injury.


Harrison Barnes collected 11 points, four rebounds and a season-high six assists with a 9.1 game score Saturday night as the 1–4 Sacramento Kings won 115–113 at home against Miami for their first victory of the season.

He took a shot in the face from Miami’s Udonis Haslem in the first quarter.


In the Chicago Bulls’ 114–109 Saturday home loss to Philadelphia, Coby White had seven points, one 3-pointer, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes. For the fifth time in seven games, Tony Bradly didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the 3–4 Bulls.


Justin Jackson got into his second game of the season on Sunday. He played four scoreless minutes, missing his only shot, a 3-point attempt, in Boston’s 112–94 home win over Washington.


Walker Kessler was still feeling sick and missed his second consecutive Utah game Saturday, a 124–123 home win over Memphis.


In Brooklyn’s 125–116 Saturday home loss to Indiana, Day’Ron Sharpe didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the second consecutive game.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard

Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

114–105 Sunday loss vs. Dallas — Anthony is out indefinitely with a right internal oblique injury
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 — 8 p.m. Tuesday at Oklahoma City; 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Golden State
———————————————

Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward

Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

115–113 Saturday win vs. Miami — Started; 34 minutes, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls, +12, 9.1 game score
Season statistics — 5 games, 10.4 points, 42.1 FG%, 2 of 13 3FG, 72.0 FT%, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Next games 7 p.m. Monday at Charlotte, Bally Sports Southeast; 7:30 Wednesday at Miami
———————————————

Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center

Age 24 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)

114–109 Saturday loss vs. Philadelphia — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 2 games, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1.5 rebounds
Next games 7:30 Tuesday at Brooklyn, TNT; 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Charlotte, Bally Sports Southeast
———————————————

Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward

Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)

117–111 Saturday OT loss vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 38 minutes, 7 points, 2–5 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, -20, 3.4 game score
114–105 Sunday win vs. Orlando — Started; 29 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1 steal, 3 fouls, +10, 3.1 game score
Season statistics 6 games, 7.2 points, 38.9 FG%, 41.4 3P%, 75.0 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Next games 8:30 Wednesday vs. Utah; 8:30 Friday vs. Toronto
———————————————

Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward

Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)

112–94 Sunday win vs. Washington — 4 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 foul, -6, -1.1 game score
Season statistics — 2 games, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–5 3FG
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday at Cleveland, ESPN; 7:30 Friday vs. Chicago, ESPN
———————————————

Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns power forward

Age 26 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

124–109 Sunday win vs. Houston — Started; 31 minutes, 19 points, 7–15 FG, 5–11 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 fouls, +19, 13.9 game score
Season statistics 6 games, 12.5 points, 42.2 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assist
Next games 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Minnesota, TNT; 10 p.m. Friday vs. Portland
———————————————

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center

Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

124–123 Saturday win vs. Memphis — Didn’t play (illness)
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. Monday vs. Memphis; 8:30 Wednesday at Dallas
———————————————

Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers small forward

Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

Off Saturday and Sunday
Season statistics 6 games, 5.3 points, 52.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Next games 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Memphis, ESPN; 10 p.m. Friday at Phoenix
———————————————

Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard

Age 26 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)

117–111 Saturday OT loss vs. Oklahoma City and 114–105 Sunday win vs. Orlando 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 8:30 Wednesday vs. Utah; 8:30 Friday vs. Toronto
———————————————

Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center

Age 20 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

125–116 Saturday loss vs. Indiana — 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 Monday vs. Indiana, NBATV; 7:30 Tuesday vs. Chicago, TNT
———————————————

Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard

Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

114–109 Saturday loss vs. Philadelphia 22 minutes, 7 points, 3–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -2, 1.3 game score
Season statistics 7 games, 8.1 points, 38.2 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games 7:30 Tuesday at Brooklyn, TNT; 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Charlotte, Bally Sports Southeast
———————————————
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.
———————————————
Get an explanation of the game score metric here.

Photo via @suns

Leave a comment