By R.L. Bynum
On the night that Nassir Little returned after missing 22 games over six weeks, Harrison Barnes and the high-scoring Sacramento Kings just kept rolling.
Barnes scored 29 points and four 3-pointers to lead the Kings to their fourth consecutive victory, 132–119 at San Antonio on Sunday night. It was the second consecutive game and third in the last four that Barnes has scored at least 27 points and at least three 3-pointers. It was his 38th career game with at least 27 points.
The Kings have scored at least 130 points in five consecutive games for the first time in franchise history and became the eighth team in NBA history to do it. The previous team to do it was the Denver Nuggets in November 1988.
Barnes scored 18 points in the Kings’ Jan. 7 136–134 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, 30 in the Jan. 9 136–111 win over Orlando, 16 in Wednesday’s 135–115 victory over Houston and 27 in Friday’s 139–114 win over Houston.
Three of his top four game scores this season have come in the last week: 25.8 Friday against the Rockets, 24.5 against the Magic and 24.2 against the Spurs. His season-high is a 27.6 on Nov. 20 in a 27-point, eight-rebound, three-assist game in a 137–129 home win over Detroit.
“For us, we tried to match that aggression with aggression,” Barnes said of Sunday’s win. “If they are going to deny passes, force us off our spots, we’re going to try to cut hard and put pressure on the rim.”
The Kings led by one at halftime and pulled away in the third quarter by outscoring the Spurs 39–26.
“We were just trying to limit points in the paint,” Barnes said. “They got a lot of easy looks in the first half, over 40 points in the paint. We knew we wanted to try to shrink the floor and make them make shots over us.”
Sacramento is 24–18, fourth in the Western Conference, and is six games above .500 for the first time since April 2006.
Coby White had his third consecutive strong game in the Chicago Bulls’ 132–118 home win Sunday over Golden State to snap an 11-game losing streak against the Warriors.
White collected 15 points, two 3-pointers, three rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes. He scored 19 points in Friday’s 124–110 loss to Oklahoma City and 13 in Wednesday’s 100–97 loss at Washington. It was the second time this season that White has scored in double figures in three consecutive games after doing it in mid-December.
Tony Bradley, who hasn’t played since Dec. 18, was back on the active roster for the first time since Dec. 31 but didn’t play (coach’s decision.)
Little hadn’t played for Portland since Nov. 29 after suffering a hip injury (femoral head impaction fracture) but returned to action in the Trail Blazers’ 140–123 win Sunday against Dallas. However, for at least the first few games, he’ll have minutes restrictions.
He was solid in his return, with 10 points, three 3-pointers and two blocks in 16 minutes. His 9.6 game score was the second-best in 22 games this season.
For the Mavericks, Reggie Bullock scored 10 points and two 3-pointers. Theo Pinson had three points and a season-high five assists in 21 minutes.
Day’Ron Sharpe joined the Brooklyn Nets for their 112–102 Sunday loss to Oklahoma City, going scoreless in six minutes with two rebounds, an assist and a block.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
119–116 Sunday loss at Denver— 24 minutes, 7 points, 1–7 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5–6 FT, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 4 fouls, +3, 7.3 game score
Season statistics — 26 games, 11.4 points, 40.6 FG%, 30.8 3P%, 89.3 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Friday vs. New Orleans; 7 p.m. Saturday at Washington
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
132–119 Sunday win at San Antonio— Started; 39 minutes, 29 points, 8–11 FG, 4–6 3FG, 9–11 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +22, 24.2 game score
Season statistics — 42 games, 15.2 points, 48.8 FG%, 36.6 3FG%, 82.2 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games — 10:30 Wednesday at Los Angeles Lakers; 10 p.m. Friday vs. Oklahoma City
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 25 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
132–118 Sunday win vs. Golden State — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
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 — 3 p.m. Thursday at Detroit; 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 vs. Atlanta
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
140–123 Sunday loss at Portland — Started; 35 minutes, 10 points, 4–9 FG, 2–6 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, -10, 7.9 game score
Season statistics — 43 games, 5.8 points, 36.4 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 65.4 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Atlanta, ESPN; 7:30 Friday vs. Miami, ESPN
Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 19 games, 83 minutes, 15 points, 5–22 FG, 4–16 3FG, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Next games — 1 p.m. Monday at Charlotte, NBATV; 7:30 Thursday vs. Golden State, TNT
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Off Sunday
Season statistics — 43 games, 7.2 points, 71.9 FG%, 55.8 FT%, 6.8 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist, 2.0 blocks
Next games — 4 p.m. Monday at Minnesota; 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
140–123 Sunday win vs. Dallas —16 minutes, 10 points, 3–6 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, -1, 9.6 game score
Season statistics — 22 games, 5.7 points, 47.4 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 65.2 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games — 9 p.m. Tuesday at Denver; 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Philadelphia
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
140–123 Sunday loss at Portland —21 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, -6, 3.5 game score
Season statistics — 23 games, 127 minutes, 41 points, 12–34 FG, 9–24 3FG, 8–9 FT, 27 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Atlanta, ESPN; 7:30 Friday vs. Miami, ESPN
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
112–102 Sunday loss vs. Oklahoma City — 6 minutes, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 foul, -1, 1.6 game score
Season NBA statistics — 21 games, 184 minutes, 77 points, 30–57 FG, 4–5 3FG, 13–19 FT, 66 rebounds, 14 assists, 3 steals, 11 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) — 8 games, 14.8 points, 55.6 FG%, 22.2 3FG%, 64.3 FT%, 12.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 blocks
Next game(s) — 1 p.m. Monday for Long Island vs. Grand Rapids and/or 8 p.m. Tuesday for Brooklyn at San Antonio
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
132–118 Sunday win vs. Golden State— 26 minutes, 15 points, 6–7 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -7, 13.3 game score
Season statistics — 36 games, 8.4 points, 42.7 FG%, 36.6 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Next games — 3 p.m. Thursday at Detroit; 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 vs. Atlanta
In the G League
Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
Off Sunday
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) — 5 games, 12.0 points, 50.0 FG%, 0–3 3P, 43.8 FT%, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.8 of a block
Next games — 12:30 Wednesday at Wisconsin; 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 vs. Iowa
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.
Get an explanation of the game score metric here.
Photo via @SacramentoKings
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