By R.L. Bynum
Harrison Barnes is on a roll, and so are the Sacramento Kings. There are good vibes all around that the team and fanbase that have been missing for a long time.
Barnes collected a season-high 27 points, nine rebounds and three assists Sunday night as the host Kings beat the Detroit Pistons 137–129 for their sixth straight victory. He was 10 of 11 from the free throw line, and his two free throws with 14.6 seconds left put away the win.
“We’re kind of clicking,” Barnes said. “We have that continuity that, at the beginning of the year, we didn’t have. It’s amazing that the offense has clicked on that end.”
Barnes’ 27.7 game score was a season-high, and his highest since putting up a 28.6 in a 30-point game last season on Feb. 9 in a 132–119 home win over Minnesota. It was the best point total for Barnes since scoring 27 last season on March 3 in a 115–112 win at San Antonio.
The Kings’ longest win streak since January 2005 pushed them to 9–6, tied for the fifth-best record in the Western Conference.
He said he feels good for the Kings fans, who haven’t had much to cheer about in recent years.
“This is a lot,” Barnes said. “I mean, fans have been showing up here in this building. They’ve had their heart broken for a very long time. And I think to deliver a level of competitiveness and consistency — some people might take that as a given — but I think anyone who’s been in this locker room, been in this arena, has known that that’s that has always been the case.
“We’re getting better; we’re becoming more consistent,” Barnes said. “Coming into this arena and leaving with happy feelings multiple nights in a row? I’ve been here almost five years. That hasn’t been the case, so it’s nice.”
According to James Ham of TheKingsBeat.com, the Kings aren’t currently involved in any trade talks involving Barnes and are focusing on building team chemistry with the group that they have.
Barnes praised teammate De’Aaron Fox, who had 33 points and seven assists.
“This is the best basketball he’s played in his career,” Barnes said. “He’s playing at an All-Star level. He’s doing it on the offensive end, the defensive end … it’s a credit to him and the amount of work he put in this summer.”
In Portland’s 118–113 Saturday home loss to Utah, the Blazers’ Nassir Little put up a season-high 10.1 game score with eight points, two 3-pointers, three rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Walker Kessler, who had one point in 20 minutes in Friday’s 134–133 Utah home win over Phoenix, had six points and five rebounds in the Jazz win at Portland.
The Dallas Mavericks split two weekend home games against the Denver Nuggets, winning 127–99 Friday and losing 98–97 on Sunday.
In the Mavs’ win Friday, Reggie Bullock put up a season-high 10.8 game score with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal. In Sunday’s game, Bullock contributed three points, four rebounds and a steal.
Theo Pinson, who didn’t play Sunday (coach’s decision), played four scoreless minutes Friday and has played 11 minutes over three games this season.
Chicago’s Coby White finally returned after missing eight games with a left quadricep contusion on Friday night. He was scoreless with a rebound and two assists in four minutes of the Bulls’ 108–107 loss to Orlando. Tony Bradley didn’t play (coach’s decision) and has only logged 12 minutes over five games this season.
Cole Anthony missed that game and Orlando’s 114–113 Saturday loss at Indiana and has been out for 12 consecutive games with a right internal oblique tear. He’s already been ruled out for Monday’s rematch with the Pacers.
Day’Ron Sharpe had two points, a rebound and an assist in three minutes of the Brooklyn Nets’ 127–115 Sunday home win over Memphis.
Justin Jackson didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Boston’s 117–109 Friday win at New Orleans. He has played 25 minutes over four games this season, scoring six points.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
108–107 Friday win at Chicago and 114–113 Saturday loss at Indiana — Missed both, has missed 12 consecutive games with a right internal oblique tear
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. Monday at Indiana; 7 p.m. Friday vs. Philadelphia
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
137–129 Sunday win vs. Detroit — Started; 36 minutes, 27 points (season-high), 8–11 FG, 1–2 3FG, 10–11 FT, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, +20, 27.7 game score (season-high)
Season statistics — 15 games, 12.7 points, 46.4 FG%, 26.5 3FG%, 84.7 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Tuesday at Memphis; 7:30 Wednesday at Atlanta
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 24 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
108–107 Friday loss vs. Orlando — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 5 games, 12 minutes, 5 points, 1–2 FG, 3–3 FT, 6 rebounds
Next games — 8 p.m. Monday vs. Boston; 8 p.m. Wednesday at Milwaukee
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
127–99 Friday win vs. Denver — Started; 31 minutes, 10 points, 4–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, +20, 10.8 game score (season-high)
98–97 Sunday loss vs. Denver — Started; 26 minutes, 3 points, 1–5 FG, 1–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 foul, -25, 2.1 game score
Season statistics — 16 games, 5.1 points, 31.1 FG%, 29.3 3P%, 57.1 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday at Boston, ESPN; 5 p.m. Saturday at Toronto
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Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
117–109 Friday win at New Orleans — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 4 games, 25 minutes, 6 points, 2–8 FG, 2–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Next games — 8 p.m. Monday at Chicago; 7:30 Wednesday vs. Dallas, ESPN
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Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
134–133 Friday win vs. Phoenix — 20 minutes, 1 point, 0–3 FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 fouls, -18, 1.4 game score
118–113 Saturday win at Portland — 11 minutes, 6 points, 3–3 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, -6, 7.7 game score, 7.7 game score
Season statistics — 15 games, 5.3 points, 67.3 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 1.6 blocks
Next games — 10:30 Monday at Los Angeles Clippers, NBATV; 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Detroit
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers small forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
118–113 Saturday loss vs. Utah — 10 minutes, 8 points, 3–3 FG, 2–2 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, -2, 10.1 game score (season-high)
Season statistics — 16 games, 6.3 points, 51.4 FG%, 44.1 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games — 8 p.m. Monday at Milwaukee; 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cleveland
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Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
127–99 Friday win vs. Denver — 4 minutes, 0 points, -1, 0.3 game score
98–97 Sunday loss vs. Denver — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 2 points, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday at Boston, ESPN; 5 p.m. Saturday at Toronto
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
127–115 Sunday win vs. Memphis — 3 minutes, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, -5, 1.3 game score
Season statistics — 12 games, 2.8 points, 44.4 FG%, 1–2 3P, 3.0 rebounds, 0.8 of an assis
Next games — 7:30 Tuesday at Philadelphia, TNT; 7:30 Wednesday at Toronto
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
108–107 Friday loss vs. Orlando — 4 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, plus/minus of 0, -0.4 game score
Season statistics — 8 games, 7.1 points, 37.5 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 1.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Monday vs. Boston; 8 p.m. Wednesday at Milwaukee
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Out while recovering from surgery
— Phoenix forward Cameron Johnson is expected to return in early December or as late as early January after having right knee surgery on Nov. 8. His season statistics: 8 games, 13.0 points, 44.6 FG%, 43.1 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists
— 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.
tarheeltribune.com 
