By R.L. Bynum
Justin Jackson and Theo Pinson, two of three UNC alums who play for the Texas Legends, had big games on opening night in the G League.
Jackson, in his third stint with the Legends, scored 26 points and Pinson added 21, but the Legends lost at home Friday night to the Oklahoma City Blue 108–95 after leading by 22 points in the first half. Tony Bradley is also on the team but was inactive for the game.
Jackson had six 3-pointers, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.
In his first G League action since playing for the Legends in the 2021–22 season, Pinson scored a pair of 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater at the end of the first half, made all five free throw attempts and had two assists and a steal.
Pete Nance, making his G League debut Friday for the Cleveland Charge, was scoreless in 18 minutes with four rebounds and a steal in a 116–109 victory over the Wisconsin Herd.
In the NBA, Cameron Johnson finally returned to the Brooklyn lineup after missing six games with a left calf contusion for the Nets’ 121–107 loss Friday at Boston. He started and had 11 points, three 3-pointers and five rebounds in 25 minutes.
“I think you see he gives us just a different dynamic,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “His ability to stretch the floor, to guard multiple positions. That’s with him not having a bunch of game minutes underneath his belt. He’ll continue to get minutes, continue to knock off some of that rust a little bit.”
Day’Ron Sharpe, after not playing (coach’s decision) in Wednesday’s 100–93 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers, had five points, three rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes.
After scoring 12 points and two 3-pointers with five rebounds in Sacramento’s 121–118 overtime home win Wednesday over Portland, Harrison Barnes had four points and four rebounds (going 1 of 8 from the floor) in the Kings’ 105–98 Friday home win over Oklahoma City.
Coby White had 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in Chicago’s 116–115 Wednesday home loss to Phoenix.
In Orlando’s 120–119 Thursday loss to Atlanta in Mexico City, Cole Anthony had seven points, two rebounds and two assists.
Leaky Black made his NBA debut in Charlotte’s 132–116 home loss Wednesday to Washington. He played four minutes, missed his only shot and had an assist, but didn’t play (coach’s decision) in the Hornets’ 124–117 win Friday at Washington.
Utah center Walker Kessler will miss some time with an injury. In Utah’s season opener, he suffered an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his left elbow. Kessler continued to play, but doctors recommended non-contact activities so that he could recover after he experienced discomfort. He’s expected to miss at least two weeks.
After scoring three points in 12 minutes for Dallas in a 128–94 Wednesday home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Reggie Bullock didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Friday’s 104–101 home win over New Orleans. He hasn’t played in three of the last five games.
Nassir Little is struggling to get on the court of late. He didn’t play (coach’s decision) in the last three games and has only played once (for 3 minutes and 43 seconds) in Phoenix’s last five games.
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
120–119 Thursday loss vs. Atlanta in Mexico City — 23 minutes, 7 points, 1–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -3, 0.3 game score
Season statistics — 8 games, 14.8 points, 45.2 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 76.9 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Next game — 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Milwaukee
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
121–118 Wednesday OT win vs. Portland — Started; 36 minutes, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 3 points, -1, 9.1 game score
105–98 Friday win vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 26 minutes, 4 points, 1–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +7, 0.1 game score
Season statistics — 8 games, 12.1 points, 47.8 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 78.3 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Next game — 10 p.m. Monday vs. Cleveland, NBATV
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
132–116 Wednesday loss vs. Washington — (NBA debut) 4 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 1 assist, +4
124–117 Friday win at Washington — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — noon Sunday at New York, Bally Sports SE
Swarm opener — 7 p.m. Saturday 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
128–94 Wednesday win vs. Los Angeles Lakers — 12 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, +6, 2.3 game score
104–101 Friday win vs. New Orleans — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 5 games, 586 minutes, 6 points, 2–8 FG, 2–7 3FG, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Next game — 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Denver
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
100–93 Wednesday win vs. Los Angeles Clippers — Missed sixth straight game with a left calf contusion
121–107 Friday loss at Boston — Started; 25 minutes, 11 points, 4–13 FG, 3–6 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -22, 3.6 game score
Season statistics — 2 games, 11.5 points, 39.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 50.0 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday vs. Washington
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
134–118 Wednesday loss at Indiana and 127–121 Friday win at Memphis — Missed both games, will be out at least two more weeks with an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his left elbow
Season statistics — 8 games, 8.3 points, 54.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. Portland
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).
116–115 Wednesday win at Chicago and 122–119 Friday loss vs. Los Angeles Lakers — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Season statistics — 5 games, 3.8 points, 42.9 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 4–4 FT, 1.4 rebounds, 1.0 steal
Next game — 8 p.m. Sunday vs. Oklahoma City
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
100–93 Wednesday win vs. Los Angeles Clippers — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
121–107 Friday loss at Boston — 13 minutes, 5 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +5, 1.0 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 6.6 points, 59.0 FG%, 0–1 3P, 61.9 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 0.4 of an assist, 0.4 of a block
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday vs. Washington
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
116–115 Wednesday loss vs. Phoenix — Started; 38 minutes, 11 points, 5–14 FG, 1–5 3FG, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -11, 10.4 game score
Season statistics — 9 games, 11.9 points, 38.6 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 88.2 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Next game — 7 p.m. Sunday vs. Detroit
In G League
Tony Bradley, Texas Legends center
Age 25 | 6–11, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
108–95 Friday loss vs. Oklahoma City — Inactive for the game
Next game — 8:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma City
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends guard
Age 28 | 6–8, 220 | seventh pro season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
108–95 Friday loss vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 34 minutes, 26 points, 9–18 FG, 6–14 3FG, 1–1 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -6
Next game — 8:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma City
Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge
Age 23 | 6–10, 225 | rookie pro season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
116–109 Friday win vs. Wisconsin — Didn’t start; 18 minutes, 0 points, 0–3 FG, 0–3 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 1 steal, +1
Season opener — 6 p.m. Sunday vs. Wisconsin
Theo Pinson, Texas Legends guard
Age 27 | 6–7, 212 | sixth pro season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
108–95 Friday loss vs. Oklahoma City — Didn’t start; 28 minutes, 21 points, 5–13 FG, 2–6 3FG, 5–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -15
Next game — 8:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma City
What is a game score?
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.
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