By R.L. Bynum
Cameron Johnson continues to consistently play well, which has helped turn the Phoenix Suns’ season around.
He’s combined for 34 points and five 3-pointers in the last two wins. The Suns have gone from losing 11 of 13 games before he returned to 9–2 since then to move up to fifth place in the Western Conference at 30–26. Johnson tore the meniscus in his right knee and missed nearly three months.
“When he’s knocking down shots, it just gives everyone more room to operate,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said.
Phoenix has won three in a row. In Saturday’s 116–110 win at Detroit, Johnson put up his third-best game score of the season at 20.1 with 20 points, three 3-pointers, two rebounds and two assists and was +25. On Tuesday, he collected 14 points, five rebounds and two assists in the Suns’ 116–112 win at Brooklyn in Devin Booker’s first game since Christmas Day.
“When I was watching him tonight, I’m like, that’s the Cam I know,” Williams said after Saturday’s game. “Playing off the dribble, sprinting into 3, staying in front of the ball, those kinds of plays.”
Phoenix has won the first three games of a five-game road trip that concludes with a Thursday game at Atlanta and a Friday game at Indiana.
For Brooklyn on Tuesday, Day’Ron Sharpe had six points and four rebounds. He was scoreless in 16 total minutes combined in the Nets’ 125–123 Saturday home win over Washington and the 124–116 Monday home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Coby White scored in double figures in two consecutive games (10 in Saturday’s 129–121 home win over Portland and 12 in Monday’s 128–104 home win over San Antonio) before scoring only four in Tuesday’s 104–89 home loss to Memphis. Tony Bradley only played against the Spurs, scoring two points in four minutes.
Danny Green is off to a rough offensive start since making his debut on Feb. 1, with nine points in three games. He scored six in Memphis’ 106–103 Sunday home loss to Toronto and was scoreless in Tuesday’s game with Chicago.
Nassir Little was scoreless in that Portland loss at Chicago and had eight points Monday in the Blazers’ 127–109 home loss against Milwaukee.
Reggie Bullock had 13 points and three 3-pointers in Dallas’ 124–111 Monday win at Utah after collecting five points and six rebounds in Saturday’s 119–113 loss at Golden State. In a combined 20 minutes in the two games, Theo Pinson contributed three points and four rebounds, all in Monday’s game.
For Utah against the Mavericks, Walker Kessler had 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Cole Anthony scored nine points in both Orlando’s 119–113 win Sunday at Charlotte (with five assists) and in Tuesday’s 102–98 home loss to New York.
Harrison Barnes had seven points in Sacramento’s 136–104 Sunday loss at New Orleans and nine in Monday’s 140–120 win at Houston.
Justin Jackson didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Boston’s 111–99 win Monday at Detroit.
Garrison Brooks remained out with a concussion for Monday’s Westchester Knicks’ 126–112 loss at College Park.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
119–113 Sunday win at Charlotte — 20 minutes, 9 points, 4–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -2, 7.4 game score
102–98 Tuesday loss vs. New York — 21 minutes, 9 points, 3–7 FG 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, +8, 6.5 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 12.0 points, 44.1 FG%, 33.9 3P%, 89.1 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Denver; 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Denver
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
136–104 Sunday loss at New Orleans — Started; 23 minutes, 7 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5–6 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -35 (season-low; the previous low was -23), 4.1 game score
140–120 Monday win at Houston — Started; 26 minutes, 9 points, 3–9 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, +10, 8.7 game score
Season statistics — 53 games, 15.1 points, 47.7 FG%, 38.2 3FG%, 82.6 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Next games — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Houston; 10 p.m. Friday vs. Dallas
Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Age 25 | 6–10, 248 | sixth NBA season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
129–121 Saturday win vs. Portland and 104–89 Tuesday loss at Memphis — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
128–104 Monday win vs. San Antonio — 4 minutes, 2 points, 0–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 1 foul, -3, 0.9 game score
Season statistics — 11 games, 30 minutes, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–5 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Next games — 7:30 Thursday at Brooklyn, TNT; 8 p.m. Saturday at Cleveland
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 31 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
119–113 Saturday loss at Golden State — 35 minutes, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +7, 6.5 game score
124–111 Monday win at Utah — Started; 34 minutes, 13 points, 5–11 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +6, 13.5 game score (4th-highest this season)
Season statistics — 53 games, 6.6 points, 39.3 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 64.5 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Next games — 10 p.m. Wednesday at Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN; 10 p.m. Friday at Sacramento
Danny Green, Memphis Grizzlies guard
Age 35 | 6–6, 205 | 13th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)
106–103 Sunday loss vs. Toronto — 19 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -10, 1.2 game score
104–89 Tuesday win vs. Chicago — 15 minutes, 0 points, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3FG, +9, -2.2 game score
Season statistics — 3 games, 43 minutes, 9 points, 3–11 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Next games — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Minnesota; 2 p.m. Sunday at Boston, ABC
Justin Jackson, Boston Celtics forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 220| sixth NBA season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
111–99 Monday win at Detroit — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Next games — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Philadelphia, ESPN; 7:30 Friday vs. Charlotte, ESPN
Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210| fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
116–100 Saturday win at Detroit — Started; 23 minutes, 20 points, 7–9 FG, 3–4 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, +25, 20.1 game score (third-best this season)
116–112 Tuesday win at Brooklyn — Started; 29 minutes, 14 points, 6–11 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, +5, 11.4 game score
Season statistics — 17 games, 13.9 points, 47.4 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Next games — 7:30 Thursday at Atlanta; 7 p.m. Friday at Indiana
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
124–111 Monday loss vs. Dallas — 27 minutes, 13 points, 6–9 FG, 1–1 FT, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -8, 15.8 game score
Season statistics — 52 games, 7.9 points, 71.5 FG%, 53.5 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 2.1 blocks
Next games — 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Minnesota; 7:30 Friday at Toronto
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 22 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
129–121 Saturday loss at Chicago — 11 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, -9, -1.9 game score
127–108 Monday loss vs. Milwaukee — 12 minutes, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -4, 5.6 game score
Season statistics — 33 games, 5.8 points, 46.7 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 60.7 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Golden State; 10 p.m. Friday vs. Oklahoma City
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
119–113 Saturday loss at Golden State — 7 minutes, 0 points, 1 turnover, -7, -1.0 game score
124–111 Monday win at Utah — 13 minutes, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +3, 4.4 game score
Season statistics — 27 games, 151 minutes, 44 points, 13–36 FG, 10–26 3FG, 8–9 FT, 32 rebounds, 15 assists, 2 steals
Next games — 10 p.m. Wednesday at Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN; 10 p.m. Friday at Sacramento
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
125–123 Saturday win vs. Washington — 9 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls, -13, -3.3 game score
124–116 Monday loss vs. Los Angeles Clippers — 7 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -10, 0.8 game score
116–112 Tuesday loss vs. Phoenix — 10 minutes, 6 points, 3–4 FG, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers, -7, 4.4 game score
Season NBA statistics — 29 games, 3.7 points, 52.4 FG%, 4–5 3FG, 65.2 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a block
Season 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 — 7:30 Thursday vs. Chicago, TNT; 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Philadelphia, NBATV
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 22 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
129–121 Saturday win vs. Portland — 21 minutes, 10 points, 4–5 FG, 2–3 3FG, 3 assists, 2 fouls, -4, 9.4 game score
128–104 Monday win vs. San Antonio — 33 minutes, 12 points, 4–8 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3–3 FT, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +20, 12.7 game score
104–89 Tuesday loss at Memphis — 25 minutes, 4 points, 1–8 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, -13, 0.4 game score
Season statistics — 46 games, 8.5 points, 41.6 FG%, 36.1 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Next games — 7:30 Thursday at Brooklyn, TNT; 8 p.m. Saturday at Cleveland
In the G League
Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
126–112 Monday loss at College Park — Not active for game (concussion)
Season statistics — 27 games, 13.2 points, 63.8 2PFGP%, 0–18 3P, 53.7 FT%, 11.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 of a block, 19 double-doubles
Next games — 7 p.m. Wednesday at College Park, ESPN+; 7 p.m. Friday vs. Sioux Falls
Get an explanation of the game score metric here. Michael Jordan produced the all-time-high game score of 64.6 on March 28, 1990, in the Chicago Bulls’ 117–113 overtime win at Cleveland. Jordan had 69 points on 23 of 37 shooting (2 of 6 from 3-point range), made 21 of 23 free-throw attempts and collected 18 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block.
Photo via @Suns
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