Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes outstanding on back-to-back nights, hits 1,050th 3-pointer; G League double-doubles for Sharpe, Brooks

By R.L. Bynum

The Sacramento Kings have split two games the last two nights, but Harrison Barnes played well in each game, with his best performances in consecutive games since November.

After scoring 19 points and three 3-pointers with eight rebounds in Tuesday’s 117–115 win over Utah, he contributed 22 points, two 3-pointers and four rebounds Wednesday in a 120–117 home loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

The 41 points are his most in successive games since scoring 27 on Nov. 20 against Detroit and then 26 on Nov. 22  at Memphis.

Barnes’ 16.6 game score gave him double-digit scores in three consecutive games for the third time this season. He did it four consecutive games in a stretch that includes those two November games.

His five 3-pointers in the two games gave him 1,050 career 3-pointers. He’s one offensive rebound away from 800 for his career. Barnes tied Mike Bibby for 21st on the Kings’ all-time defensive rebounds list at 1,243.

Sacramento is 20–17, fifth in the Western Conference.

In the Kings’ win over Utah, Walker Kessler had six points and seven rebounds for the Jazz.


Day’Ron Sharpe has played for both Brooklyn and Long Island, its G League affiliate, this week.

After collecting nine points and five rebounds in Brooklyn’s 139–103 Monday home win over San Antonio, he had 16 points, 18 rebounds and four assists in Long Island’s 129–119 Wednesday home win over Raptors 506.

Sharpe has played in three G League games since the regular-season portion of its season began Dec. 27, and is third in the league in rebounding at 13.7 per game.

If Sharpe plays for Long Island this weekend, he will face Garrison Brooks’ Westchester Knicks on Friday and Sunday.

Brooks has put up two double-doubles this week in home losses to the Cleveland Charge. He had 20 points and 10 rebounds in Monday’s 115–103 defeat, then 14 points and 14 rebounds in Tuesday’s 99–97 setback.


Cole Anthony collected six points, three rebounds and six assists in Orlando’s 126–115 Wednesday home win over Oklahoma City that pushed the Magic to 14–24.


Coby White had 10 points and two 3-pointers in Chicago’s 121–112 Wednesday home win over Brooklyn after scoring five in Monday’s 145–134 loss at Cleveland. Tony Bradley wasn’t active for either game because of personal reasons.


Reggie Bullock had eight points and eight rebounds in Dallas’ 111–105 win Monday at Houston for the Mavericks’ seventh consecutive win. Theo Pinson scored three points for Dallas, which is 22–16 and fourth in the Western Conference.


Justin Jackson scored four points in six minutes of Boston’s 150–117 loss Tuesday at Oklahoma City.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard

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

126–115 Wednesday win vs. Oklahoma City — 30 minutes, 6 points, 2–6 FG, 0–3 FT, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +8, 6.4 game score
Season statistics — 20 games, 12.6 points, 43.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 90.9 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Memphis; 8:30 Saturday at Golden State


Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward

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

117–115 Tuesday win at Utah — Started; 37 minutes, 19 points, 7–13 FG, 3–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +4, 15.1 game score
120–117 Wednesday loss vs. Atlanta — Started; 37 minutes, 22 points, 7–15 FG, 2–7 3FG, 6–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +4, 16.6 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 14.09 points, 46.4 FG%, 31.4 3FG%, 81.8 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Next games 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Los Angeles Lakers; 10 p.m. Monday vs. Orlando


Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center

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

145–134 Monday loss at Cleveland and 121–112 Wednesday win vs. Brooklyn Not active for either game (personal reasons)
Season statistics — 9 games, 25 minutes, 12 points, 4–7 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Next games 7 p.m. Friday at Philadelphia; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Utah


Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward

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

111–105 Monday win at Houston  Started; 8 points, 3–8 FG, 2–6 3FG, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 fouls, +8, 8.6 game score
Season statistics 36 games, 5.4 points, 34.9 FG%, 31.6 3P%, 71.4 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Next games 7:30 Thursday vs. Boston, TNT; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. New Orleans


Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward

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

150–117 Tuesday loss at Oklahoma City — 6 minutes, 4 points, 1–3 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, -1, 4.0 game score
Season statistics — 16 games, 74 minutes, 13 points, 4–18 FG, 4–14 3FG, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals
Next games — 7:30 Thursday at Dallas, TNT; 6 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio


Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center

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

117–115 Tuesday loss vs. Sacramento — 17 minutes, 6 points, 2–3 FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -5, 7.7 game score
Season statistics 37 games, 6.8 points, 72.8 FG%, 55.7 FT%, 6.5 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 1.8 blocks
Next games 8 p.m. Thursday at Houston; 8 p.m. Saturday at Chicago


Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard

Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)

111–105 Monday win at Houston  5 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 foul, +1, 1.2 game score
Season statistics — 17 games, 79 minutes, 19 points, 5–20 FG, 4–13 3FG, 5–6 FT, 22 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Next games 7:30 Thursday vs. Boston, TNT; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. New Orleans


Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center

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

139–103 Monday win vs. San Antonio 21 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, +10, 4.5 game score
129–119 Wednesday win for Long Island vs. Raptors 905 — Started; 34 minutes, 16 points, 6–11 FG, 2–4 FT, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, 1 block, +10
Season NBA statistics — 20 games, 178 minutes, 77 points, 30–57 FG, 4–5 3FG, 13–19 FT, 64 rebounds, 13 assists, 3 steals, 10 blocks
G League statistics (showcase; Nov. 4–Dec. 22) 6 games, 18.3 points, 64.0 FG%, 20.0 3FG%, 60.0 FT%, 12.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 blocks
G League statistics (regular season; since Dec. 27) — 3 games, 15.3 points, 63.0 FG%, 66.7 3FG%, 66.7 FT%, 13.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks
Next game 7 p.m. Friday with Long Island at Westchester or 7:30 Friday with Brooklyn at New Orleans, ESPN


Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard

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

145–134 Monday loss at Cleveland 10 minutes, 5 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 foul, -4, 5.3 game score
121–112 Wednesday win vs. Brooklyn 28 minutes, 10 points, 3–6 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 fouls, -3, 8.5 game score
Season statistics 30 games, 7.9 points, 42.1 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Next games 7 p.m. Friday at Philadelphia; 8 p.m. Saturday vs. Utah


In the G League

Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center

Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)

115–103 Monday loss vs. Cleveland Charge  Started; 28 minutes, 20 points, 8–15 FG, 0–1 3FG, 10 rebounds, 5 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, -32
99–97 Tuesday loss vs. Cleveland Charge  Started; 38 minutes, 14 points, 6–10 FG, 1–5 FT, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 block, plus/minus of 0
Season statistics (showcase; Nov. 4–Dec. 22) 15 games, 13.4 points, 61.1 FG%, 0–9 3P, 53.6 FT%, 12.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 of a block
Season statistics (regular season; since Dec. 27) — 2 games, 17.0 points, 56 FG%, 40.0 FT%, 12.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.0 block
Next games 7 p.m. Friday vs. Long Island; 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Long Island


Out while recovering from surgery

— Phoenix forward Cameron Johnson is expected to return soon after having right knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus 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 had offseason surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee suffered in May, and is targeting to make his season debut before the All-Star break in February.

Out until mid-January

— Portland forward Nassir Little suffered a mild femoral impaction fracture to his right hip on Nov. 29. His season statistics: 21 games, 5.5 points, 47.3 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist


Get an explanation of the game score metric here.

2 Comments

    1. He played one season at UNC, just like several others who are included in these updates. You may not like him because he transferred but, like all of the players in these updates, he played for the Tar Heels.

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