Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes scores 13, huge 3, in Kings win; Johnson’s best career playoff game isn’t enough; Green sits for Cavs’ loss

By R.L. Bynum

In a festive, college-type atmosphere in Sacramento, Harrison Barnes scored 13 points and a big late 3-pointer as the Kings won their first playoff game in 17 years. Cameron Johnson’s best career playoff game wasn’t enough for his Brooklyn Nets.

Against the Golden State Warriors, where Barnes began his NBA career and won a league title in 2015, the Kings pulled out a 126–123 victory in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series in a highly entertaining game.

“It was incredible all night,” said Barnes, who tweaked an ankle at the end of Wednesday’s practice but appeared to be fine Saturday. “When guys ran out for layup lines with how loud it got in there and I think everyone got chills.”

Sacramento ended the longest playoff drought in NBA history and what was the longest active playoff drought in major pro sports.

“I had a vision of what it would be like to make the playoffs here,” Barnes said “There were a lot of long, long days here. To run out there tonight, then to see that [atmosphere] and to see the fans, it was exciting, but, obviously, it was a little emotional. Just being a part of that. I’m really just happy for the fans.”

Barnes only scored one 3-pointer, but it was a big one. His 25-foot shot with 2:35 left pushed Sacramento’s lead to six, the Kings’ biggest in the fourth quarter. Then, the Kings had to sweat a Stephen Curry 3-point attempt at the buzzer that would have tied it.

It was the 65th playoff game in Barnes’ career but his first since playing for the Warriors when they lost Game 7 of the NBA Finals on May 19, 2016, to Cleveland, his final game with Golden State.

Barnes was 5 of 11 from the floor with seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and a 15.4 game score, the fifth-best of his playoff career.

De’Aaron Fox scored 38 points and Malik Monk added 32 for the Kings. Both played for Kentucky in 2016 when the Wildcats lost to UNC 75–73 in the South Regional final during the Tar Heels’ run to the national title.

The series resumes at 10 p.m. Monday with Game 2 (TNT), which also will be in Sacramento.

“For us, it’s just continuing to understand what it’s like to play in a series, knowing [the Warriors] are going to respond and make adjustments,” Barnes said. “That’s how a series goes. It was a good first night for us. Just take a step forward.

“We know who the main characters are,” Barnes said. “It’s a matter of who’s going to do the little details — the rebounds, the turnovers, the 50/50 possessions. We’re going to have a greater desire to come up with those.”


Johnson collected 18 points, seven field goals, four 3-pointers and a 12.9 game score, all career playoff highs, in his 36th playoff game. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Brooklyn Nets lost their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series opener at Philadelphia 121–101.

Johnson’s best previous playoff scoring game was 17 points for Phoenix last season in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against Dallas.

“O-boards, three-point attempts and three-point makes,” Johnson said of the difference in the game. “It’s hard to beat a team when they shoot 19 more times than you and make 21 3s. It just makes it hard.”

Day’Ron Sharpe contributed six points, six rebounds, four assists and one block off the bench in his second career playoff game. Sharpe, who got in for 22 seconds in Game 2 of Brooklyn’s playoff opener against Boston last season, played 17 minutes.

The series resumes at 7:30 Monday (TNT) in Philadelphia.


When the Cleveland Cavaliers lost the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round series to the New York Knicks 101–97 on Saturday, that was 170th playoff game of Danny Green’s career. But it was the first that he didn’t play despite being healthy. He missed four games with Philadelphia against Atlanta in the 2021 playoffs with a right calf strain.

Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 30 | 6–8, 225 | 11th NBA season | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

126–123 Saturday win vs. Golden State 36 minutes, 13 points, 5–11 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, -10, 15.4 game score
Regular-season statistics — 82 games, 15.0 points, 47.3 FG%, 37.4 3FG%, 84.7 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Sacramento finished 48–34, third in the Western Conference
Kings No. 3 seed in first-round Western Conference series with No. 6-seed Golden State
Sacramento 126, Golden State 123; Kings lead 1–0
10 p.m. Monday at Sacramento, TNT
10 p.m. Thursday at Golden State, TNT
3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at Golden State, ABC
If needed:
Wednesday, April 26, at Sacramento
Friday, April 28, at Golden State
Sunday, April 30, at Sacramento


Danny Green, Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Age 35 | 6–6, 205 | 13th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)

101–97 Saturday loss vs. New York Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Regular-season statistics 11 games, 5.5 points, 44.9 FG%, 42.2 3FG%, 1–1 FT, 1.3 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Cleveland finished 51–31, fourth in the Western Conference
Cavaliers No. 4 seed in first-round Eastern Conference series with No. 5-seed New York
New York 101, Cleveland 97; Knicks lead series 1–0
7:30 Tuesday at Cleveland, TNT
8:30 Friday at New York, ABC
1 p.m. Sunday at New York, ABC
If needed:
Wednesday, April 26, at Cleveland
Friday, April 28, at New York
Sunday, April 30, at Cleveland


Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fourth NBA season | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

121–101 Saturday loss at Philadelphia Started; 27 minutes, 18 points, 7–11 FG, 4–6 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -7, 12.9 game score
Regular-season statistics — 42 games, 15.5 points, 47.0 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 84.28 FT%, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Brooklyn finished 45–37, sixth in the Eastern Conference
Nets No. 6 seed in first-round Eastern Conference series with No. 3-seed Philadelphia
Philadelphia 121, Brooklyn 101; Sixers lead series 1–0
7:30 Monday at Philadelphia, TNT
7:30 Thursday at Brooklyn, TNT
1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, TNT
If needed:
Monday, April 24, at Philadelphia
Thursday, April 27, at Brooklyn
Saturday, April 29, at Philadelphia


Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | second NBA season | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

121–101 Saturday loss at Philadelphia 17 minutes, 6 points, 2–3 FG, 2–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -5, 7.6 game score
Regular-season NBA statistics — 48 games, 4.7 points, 54.4 FG%, 6–11 3FG, 63.6 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 0.8 of an assist, 0.7 of a block
Regular-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
Brooklyn finished 45–37, sixth in the Eastern Conference
Nets No. 6 seed in first-round Eastern Conference series with No. 3-seed Philadelphia
Philadelphia 121, Brooklyn 101; Sixers lead series 1–0
7:30 Monday at Philadelphia, TNT
7:30 Thursday at Brooklyn, TNT
1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, TNT
If needed:
Monday, April 24, at Philadelphia
Thursday, April 27, at Brooklyn
Saturday, April 29, at Philadelphia


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.

Leave a comment