By R.L. Bynum
On a night when Harrison Barnes’ Sacramento Kings ended the longest playoff drought in NBA history without one of his best games, the Brooklyn Nets got a much-needed win in Cameron Johnson’s best game of the season.
Johnson scored 31 points in 34 minutes, with five 3-pointers, seven rebounds and five assists, as the host Nets rallied to knock off Houston 123–114 Wednesday night. It was an important win for Brooklyn (41–35) because it pushed its lead over Miami for the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference to avoid the play-in tournament at 1½ games.
Johnson’s 27.3 game score was a season-high, topped only by a 32.0 for Phoenix in a 115–114 home win against New York on March 4, 2022, when he scored a career-high 38 points. He shot 61% from the floor and made 56% of his 3-point attempts against the Rockets.
Brooklyn trailed 110–105 with 3:05 left, but Johnson scored a 3-pointer during a decisive 11–0 Brooklyn run.
“We [have] six games left, They’re all super-important for us,” Johnson said. “There’s no excuse for how we played the first 40 minutes of the game, but we were able to clean it up and come out of it with a win.”
Johnson came over to Brooklyn from Phoenix in a trade-deadline deal with Mikal Bridges, who scored 12 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter.
Day’Ron Sharpe had four points, three rebounds and a block in seven minutes for Brooklyn.
Barnes collected seven points, four rebounds and three assists and was a career-high +26 as the Kings won big at Portland 120–80 to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006. It ended what was the longest active postseason drought among teams in the NBA, NFL, NHL or Major League Baseball.
Barnes said he appreciates the fan support in Sacramento
“It’s great to do it at home and for them to see,” Barnes said. “For all the support they’ve given us over the years, continuing to come to the arena, heartbreak, frustration and disappointment season after season. To finally get this moment for them, it’s everything.”
Sacramento (46–30) is third in the Western Conference and would have home-court advantage against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round if the order of the standings is the same by the end of the season.
With Portland playing without Damian Lillard (right calf injury), Jusuf Nurkić (right knee), Anfernee Simons (right foot) and Jerami Grant (left quad), Nassir Little started for the second consecutive game. After going 3 of 10 and scoring seven points in Monday’s 124–90 home loss to New Orleans, Little was 4 of 17 (including missing all eight 3-point attempts) and was career-worst -42 in the loss to the Kings.
Coby White rebounded from a seven-point game in Chicago’s 124–112 Monday road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with a solid game in the Bulls’ 121–110 Wednesday road loss against the Los Angeles Lakers.
White collected 17 points, three 3-pointers and a season-high-tying nine assists, and was a team-high +18. White also dished out nine assists five days earlier in a 19-point game at Portland.
Chicago (36–40) is clinging to the 10th and final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference, leading Washington by two games.
The Dallas Mavericks are fighting to make the play-in game but have split two road games this week, beating Indiana 127–104 Monday and losing to Philadelphia 116–108 Wednesday. The Mavs (37–40) are 10th in the Western Conference, one game back of Oklahoma City for the final play-in tournament spot.
Bullock had 11 points and three 3-pointers against the Pacers. He contributed seven points and six rebounds against the Sixers. Theo Pinson had two rebounds and an assist in seven scoreless minutes against Indiana and didn’t play (coach’s decision) against Philadelphia.
Walker Kessler followed up an 18-point, eight-rebound, seven-block performance in Utah’s 117–103 Monday home loss to Phoenix with nine points, 10 rebounds and four assists Wednesday in a 128–117 win at San Antonio. He’s blocked a season-high seven shots four times this season.
Cole Anthony had 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in Orlando’s 113–108 Tuesday loss at Memphis.
Danny Green didn’t play in Cleveland’s 120–118 Tuesday loss at Atlanta because of an illness.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 22 | 6–3, 185 | third NBA season | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
113–108 Tuesday loss at Memphis — 28 minutes, 10 points, 5–11 FG, 0–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, +2, 6.1 game score
Season statistics — 56 games, 12.8 points, 44.9 FG%, 35.6 3P%, 89.4 FT%, 4.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Friday at Washington; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Detroit
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
119–115 Monday loss vs. Minnesota — Started; 35 minutes, 19 points, 5–12 FG, 0–3 3FG, 9–11 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, +2, 14.0 game score
120–80 Wednesday win at Portland — Started; 27 minutes, 7 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, +26, 7.6 game score
Season statistics — 76 games, 15.0 points, 47.0 FG%, 37.2 3FG%, 84.6 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday at Portland; 6 p.m. Sunday vs. San Antonio
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks small forward
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 10th NBA season | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
127–104 Monday win at Indiana — Started; 22 minutes, 11 points, 4–7 FG, 3–6 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, -3, 7.9 game score
116–108 Wednesday loss at Philadelphia — Started; 33 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–8 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 4 fouls, -17, -0.9 game score
Season statistics — 74 games, 7.3 points, 41.0 FG%, 38.3 3P%, 70.3 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Next games — 7:30 Saturday at Miami, NBATV; 6 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, NBATV
Danny Green, Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Age 35 | 6–6, 205 | 13th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)
120–118 Tuesday loss at Atlanta — Didn’t play (illness)
Season statistics — 9 games, 88 minutes, 27 points, 9–23 FG, 8–18 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Next games — 7:30 Friday vs. New York; 8 p.m. Sunday vs. Indiana
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
123–114 Wednesday win vs. Houston — Started; 34 minutes, 31 points, 11–18 FG, 5–9 3FG, 4–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +17, 27.3 game score
Season statistics — 37 games, 15.4 points, 46.03 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 83.0 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Next games — 7:30 Friday vs. Atlanta; 3:30 Sunday vs. Utah
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 21 | 7–0, 245 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
117–103 Monday loss vs. Phoenix — Started; 30 minutes, 18 points, 8–10 FG, 2–5 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 7 blocks (ties season-high), 2 fouls, +7, 21.6 game score
128–117 Wednesday win at San Antonio — Started; 21 minutes, 9 points, 4–8 FG, 1–1 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +20, 12.0 game score
Season statistics — 71 games, 9.1 points, 72.4 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 51.9 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.4 blocks
Next games — 7:30 Friday at Boston; 3:30 Sunday at Brooklyn
Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 220 | third NBA season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
124–90 Monday loss vs. New Orleans — Started; 20 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -11, 4.5 game score
120–80 Wednesday loss vs. Sacramento — Started; 40 minutes; 10 points, 4–17 FG, 0–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 block 4 turnovers, 1 foul, -42 (career-low), -3.4 game score
Season statistics — 53 games, 6.6 points, 44.1 FG%, 35.9 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
Next games — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Sacramento; 3:30 Sunday at Minnesota
Theo Pinson, Dallas Mavericks guard
Age 27 | 6–5, 212 | fifth NBA season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
127–104 Monday win at Indiana — 7 minutes, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -4, -0.9 game score
116–108 Wednesday loss at Philadelphia — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 38 games, 1.7 points, 32.8 FG%, 34.1 3P%, 81.8 FT, 1.1 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist
Next games — 7:30 Saturday at Miami, NBATV; 6 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, NBATV
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
123–114 Wednesday win vs. Houston — 7 minutes, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 block, -1, 4.3 game score
Season NBA statistics — 42 games, 4.8 points, 54.6 FG%, 6–11 3FG, 63.6 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.7 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 Friday vs. Atlanta; 3:30 Sunday vs. Utah
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–4, 195 | fourth NBA season| UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
124–112 Monday loss at Los Angeles Clippers — 28 minutes, 7 points, 3–8 FG, 0–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -9, 4.6 game score
121–110 Wednesday loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 26 minutes, 17 points, 6–11 FG, 3–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 9 assists (tied season-high), 1 steal, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, +18, 17.0 game score
Season statistics — 68 games, 9.3 points, 43.2 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 86.3 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Next games — 7 p.m. Friday at Charlotte, Bally Sports SE; 3:30 Sunday vs. Memphis
Bradley free agent
On Feb. 21, Chicago waived Tony Bradley. His season statistics: 12 games, 33 minutes, 19 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 4–4 FT, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
In the G League
Garrison Brooks, Westchester Knicks center
Age 23 | 6–10, 240 | Rookie | UNC 2017–21 (4 seasons)
Westchester’s G League season over
Season statistics — 37 games, 13.6 points, 62.3 2P FGP%, 0–20 3P, 59.5 FT%, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 of a block, 24 double-doubles
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends forward
Age 28 | 6–8, 220 | Sixth pro season | UNC 2014–27 (3 seasons)
Texas’ G League season over
Season G League statistics — 14 games, 21.1 points, 44.2 FG%, 42.2 3FG%, 62.1 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Season NBA statistics (with Boston) — 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
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 @BrooklynNets
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