By R.L. Bynum
Harrison Barnes and Cole Anthony each had big opening nights to lead victories on Wednesday night, while Coby White and Cameron Johnson scored double figures in losses.
Barnes came out hot, making his first eight shots — including four 3-pointers — to score 27 of his 33 points in the first half as the Sacramento Kings easily won at Utah 130–114. He scored exactly a point per minute for the game and 1.5 points per minute over 17 first-half minutes.
It was the second monster opener in three seasons for Barnes, who scored 36 points — which still stands as his career-high and was a season-high — in a 124–121 win at Portland to open the 2021–22 season. He’s the fifth player in franchise history with multiple openers with at least 30 points, joining Jack Twyman, Oscar Robertson, Tiny Archibald and DeMarcus Cousins.
His 28.0 game score Wednesday was his highest since a 33.2 in that Portland game.
Topping his best scoring game of last season (30 points against Orlando), Barnes scored five 3-pointers with four rebounds and two assists.
“We were getting a lot of catch-and-shoot 3s, a lot of corner catch-and-shoot 3s,” Barnes said. “So anytime you can manufacture those by just ball movement, I think that was huge for us and allowed us to get into a good rhythm.”
Barnes, who only scored a total of 42 points in five preseason games, was 10 of 11 from the floor with all five of his 3-pointers in the first half. The 27 first-half points were a career-high for a first half. His previous best was 22 points, which he had done three times, most recently against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 2, 2021. He just missed his career-high for any half of 28 against Portland on Oct. 20, 2021.
“It’s important just from a confidence standpoint to go out there and start the season the right way, especially getting a win on the road,” Barnes said. “In order to be a good team, you have to win on the road.”
It was the highest-scoring first half in an opener by a Kings player since play-by-play data was first kept in the 1996–97 season, topping Kevin Martin’s 24-point first half on Oct. 28, 2009, against Oklahoma City. Barnes is the second King to score 27 points in a first half, joining Isaiah Thomas, who did it on Jan. 19, 2014, against Oklahoma City.
“He’s always going to be ready,” Kings forward Keegan Murray said. “He’s played in the biggest moments in basketball, so this is no different, and when he gets hot it’s fun to watch.”
For Utah, Walker Kessler started, played 22 minutes and had eight points, eight rebounds and a block.
Anthony, who signed a three-year, $39-million extension with the Orlando Magic on Monday, is becoming one of the best sixth men in the NBA. He scored a team-high 20 points in 25 minutes, and Orlando rolled to a 116–86 victory over Houston. He added eight rebounds and two assists and was +17 for an 18.2 game score.
Anthony said it’s only the beginning for a team coming off four consecutive losing seasons.
“[The win] is going to validate us for about 30 minutes, and then we practice tomorrow and go on a tough road trip on the West Coast,” Anthony said. “We didn’t put in all this work to win one game.”
Markelle Fultz, who starts ahead of Anthony at point guard, had 10 points. Anthony topped that in his first 14 minutes after coming off the bench midway through the first quarter when he had 13 points with three rebounds and an assist during that span.
Reggie Bullock played 11 minutes off the bench in his Rockets debut, making his only shot — a 3-pointer — to finish with three points, a rebound, a steal and a block.
White, Chicago’s starting point guard, struggled with his shot in the Bulls’ 124–104 home loss to Oklahoma City. He collected 15 points, four rebounds and four assists but was 4 of 14 from the floor and 2 of 7 from 3-point range.
The frustrated Bulls players had a players-only meeting after the game.
After missing the entire preseason with a left hamstring injury, Cameron Johnson enters the season on a minutes limit but collected 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes of Brooklyn’s 114–113 Wednesday victory over Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell paced Brooklyn with 27.
Day’Ron Sharpe contributed four points, two rebounds and two blocks for the Nets in 12 minutes off the bench.
Nassir Little made his only shot (a 3-pointer) in his Phoenix debut as the Suns won 108–104 at Golden State on Tuesday night. In three minutes, he had three points, a rebound and a steal.
Leaky Black didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Charlotte’s 116–100 home win Wednesday over Atlanta.
Danny Green and the Philadelphia 76ers open their season Thursday at 7:30 at Milwaukee (TNT).
The Cleveland Cavaliers waived Pete Nance, but he is expected to play for their G League team, the Cleveland Charge. Playing for the Dallas Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, will be Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson, with Tony Bradley — waived last week by the Mavericks — also expected to play with the team.
The G League season starts Nov. 10.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 23 | 6–3, 185 | fourth NBA season | $5,539,771 salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup point guard behind Markelle Fultz
116–86 Wednesday win vs. Houston — Didn’t start; 25 minutes, 20 points, 8–12 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3–3 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, +17
Next game — 10 p.m. Friday at Portland
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 31 | 6–8, 225 | 12th NBA season | $17,000,000 salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Chris Duarte
130–114 Wednesday win at Utah — Started; 33 minutes, 33 points, 11–16 FG, 5–7 3FG, 6–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +10
Next game — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Golden State, ESPN
Leaky Black, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 24 | 6–9, 209 | rookie NBA season | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve role; likely to play many games for G League’s Greensboro Swarm
116–110 Wednesday win vs. Atlanta — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Detroit, Bally Sports SE
Swarm opener — 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at Long Island
Reggie Bullock, Houston Rockets guard
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 11th NBA season | $10,489,600 salary | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup at small forward behind Dillon Brooks
116–86 Wednesday loss at Orlando — Didn’t start: 11 minutes, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 foul, -5
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday at San Antonio
Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers guard
Age 36 | 6–6, 215 | 15th NBA season | UNC 2005–09 (4 seasons)
Roster situation — Third-string small forward behind Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Opener — 7:30 Thursday at Milwaukee, TNT
Next game after Bucks — 7:30 Saturday at Toronto
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fifth NBA season | $25,679,348 salary UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Royce O’Neale
114–113 Wednesday loss vs. Cleveland — Started; 26 minutes, 12 points, 5–10 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -1
Next game — 8:30 Friday at Dallas
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 22 | 7–0, 245 | second NBA season | $2,831,160 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Kelly Olynyk
130–114 Wednesday loss vs. Sacramento — Started; 22 minutes, 8 points, 4–5 FG, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -14
Next game — 9:30 Friday vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Nassir Little, Phoenix Sun wing
Age 23 | 6–4, 220 | fifth NBA season | $6,250,060 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Will compete for time off the bench behind Josh Okogie at small forward (with Keita Bates-Diop, Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon) and behind Kevin Durant at power forward (with Yuta Watanabe and Baits-Diop).
108–104 Tuesday win at Golden State — 3 minutes, 3 points, 1–1 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 foul, -3
Next game — 10 p.m. Thursday at Los Angeles Lakers, TNT
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | third NBA season | $2,210,040 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
114–113 Wednesday loss vs. Cleveland — Didn’t start: 12 minutes, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, +2
Next game — 8:30 Friday at Dallas
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–5, 195 | fifth NBA season | $11,111,111 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter ahead of Jevon Carter
124–104 Wednesday loss vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 31 minutes, 15 points, 4–14 FG, 2–7 3FG, 5–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls, -8
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Toronto
In G League
Tony Bradley, Texas Legends center
Age 25 | 6–11, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
2022–23 season NBA statistics (Bulls) — 12 games, 33 minutes, 19 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 4–4 FT, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Season opener — 8:30 Friday, Nov. 10 vs. Oklahoma City
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends guard
Age 28 | 6–8, 220 | seventh pro season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
2022–23 season NBA statistics (Celtics) — 23 games, 107 minutes, 20 points, 7–27 FG, 5–20 3FG, 17 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
2022–23 season G League statistics (Legends) — 14 games, 21.1 points, 44.2 FG%, 42.2 3FG%, 62.1 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Season opener — 8:30 Friday, Nov. 10 vs. Oklahoma City
Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge
Age 23 | 6–10, 225 | rookie pro season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Final preseason NBA statistics — 2 games, 0 starts, 17 minutes, 2 points, 0–1 FT, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul
Charge opener — 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 vs. Wisconsin
Theo Pinson, \Texas Legends guard
Age 27 | 6–7, 212 | sixth pro season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
2022–23 season statistics (Mavericks) — 40 games, 2.4 points, 35.6 FG%, 35.5 3P%, 84.6 FT, 1.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Season opener — 8:30 Friday, Nov. 10 vs. Oklahoma City
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