By R.L. Bynum
The Phoenix Suns lost Thursday for the first time since Cameron Johnson’s return to the lineup a week earlier, but it wasn’t because the fourth-year NBA player didn’t do his part.
Johnson followed up a 24-point, six-3-pointer night in Tuesday’s win over Charlotte with 22 points and five 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough in a 99–95 home loss to Reggie Bullock and the Dallas Mavericks.
Bullock had 10 points, two 3-pointers and five rebounds for the Mavs, while Theo Pinson didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the third consecutive game.
Johnson is averaging 18.5 points in his four games since recovering from knee surgery and is 11 of 14 from 3-point range in the last two games.
In Chicago’s 111–96 loss at Charlotte on Thursday, Coby White had six points, two 3-pointers, three rebounds and two assists. Tony Bradley didn’t play (coach’s decision) for the third consecutive game.
On Wednesday, Harrison Barnes contributed 10 points and three rebounds — his lowest scoring output since Dec. 30 — in Sacramento’s 113–95 home loss to Toronto. The Kings have lost two of their last three games, all at home.
In Orlando’s 126–120 Wednesday home win over Indiana, Cole Anthony had nine points, two rebounds and five assists.
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Walker Kessler, in his eighth consecutive start, had six points, five rebounds and two assists in Utah’s 134–124 Wednesday loss to Portland. For the Blazers, Nassir Little had eight points and three rebounds.
Day’Ron Sharpe missed Brooklyn’s 137–133 Wednesday loss at Philadelphia and its 130–122 Thursday home defeat against Detroit with lower back soreness.
Justin Jackson didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Boston’s 120–117 overtime home loss Thursday against New York, after logging more than 14 minutes two nights earlier in a loss at Miami.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
126–120 Wednesday win vs. Indiana — 25 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 1 foul, -6, 8.1 game score
Season statistics — 30 games, 11.7 points, 42.7 FG%, 30.3 3P%, 89.5 FT%, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Friday at Miami; 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Chicago
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
113–95 Wednesday loss vs. Toronto — Started; 30 minutes, 10 points, 3–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, -23, 5.8 game score
Season statistics — 47 games, 15.4 points, 48.7 FG%, 38.7 3FG%, 82.4 FT%, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Saturday at Minnesota; 8 p.m. Monday at Minnesota
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 25 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
111–96 Thursday loss at Charlotte — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 10 games, 25 minutes, 12 points, 4–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Next games — 7 p.m. Saturday at Orlando; 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
99–95 Thursday win at Phoenix — 31 minutes, 10 points, 3–9 FG, 2–8 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 fouls, -5, 6.0 game score
Season statistics — 48 games, 6.2 points, 37.5 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 65.5 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Next games — 9 p.m. Saturday at Utah; 8:30 Monday vs. Detroit
Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
120–117 OT Thursday loss vs. New York — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 21 games, 99 minutes, 18 points, 6–25 FG, 5–19 3FG, 14 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Next games — 8:30 Saturday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, ABC; 7:30 Wednesday vs. Brooklyn, ESPN
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210| fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
99–95 Thursday loss vs. Dallas — Started; 33 minutes, 22 points, 8–12 FG, 5–7 3FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 2 fouls, +6, 19.9 game score
Season statistics — 12 games, 14.8 points, 48.8 FG%, 46.7 3P%, 80.0 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio; 9 p.m. Monday vs. Toronto
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
134–124 Wednesday loss at Portland — Started; 20 minutes, 6 points, 3–4 FG, 0–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -15, 4.8 game score
Season statistics — 48 games, 7.6 points, 71.0 FG%, 53.8 FT%, 7.6 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 1.9 blocks
Next games — 9 p.m. Saturday vs. Dallas; 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Toronto
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
134–124 Wednesday win vs. Utah — 32 minutes, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, +17, 6.2 game score
Season statistics — 27 games, 6.2 points, 48.8 FG%, 43.5 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Saturday vs. Toronto; 10 p.m. Monday vs. Atlanta, NBATV
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
99–95 Thursday win at Phoenix — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 24 games, 131 minutes, 41 points, 12–34 FG, 9–24 3FG, 8–9 FT, 27 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals
Next games — 9 p.m. Saturday at Utah; 8:30 Monday vs. Detroit
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
137–133 Wednesday loss at Philadelphia and 130–122 Thursday loss vs. Detroit— Didn’t play (lower back soreness)
Season NBA statistics — 23 games, 189 minutes, 78 points, 30–57 FG, 4–5 3FG, 14–21 FT, 70 rebounds, 15 assists, 3 steals, 13 blocks
G League statistics — 14 games, 16.3 points, 64.4 2PFG%, 21.1 3FG%, 57.1 FT%, 12.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, 12 double-doubles
Next games — 5:30 Saturday vs. New York, ABC; 7:30 Monday vs. Los Angeles Lakers, NBATV
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
111–96 Thursday loss at Charlotte — 26 minutes, 6 points, 2–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists,1 turnover, 2 fouls, +7, 1.0 game score
Season statistics — 40 games, 8.4 points, 41.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Saturday at Orlando; 8 p.m. Tuesday vs. Los Angeles Clippers
In the G League
Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
Off Wednesday and Thursday
Season statistics — 24 games, 14.0 points, 52.8 PFG%, 0–18 3P, 52.8 FT%, 12.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.7 of a block, 18 double-doubles
Next games — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Grand Rapids; 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Grand Rapids
Out while recovering from surgery
— 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 Feb. 1 against Portland.
Get an explanation of the game score metric here.
Photo via @Suns
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