By R.L. Bynum
Although a milestone by teammate Kevin Durant overshadowed Nassir Little’s effort, the fifth-year former UNC forward had his best game of the season against his former team.
The Portland Trail Blazers dealt Little after four seasons with them, and he showed them what they gave up on Tuesday night. In 22 minutes, Little scored 13 points and pulled down five rebounds, all three numbers season-highs, as the host Phoenix Suns knocked off the Blazers 120–107 in an In-Season Tournament game.
“You can tell he put into work, and he’s a good player,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said of Little. “There are a lot of guys on that bench that I trust. He’s playing solid two-way basketball — getting shots, getting plays off the bounce offensively — and he brings a lot of toughness on rebounding and defense.
Little was part of a three-team deal on Sept. 27 that sent him, former Duke star Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkić, and Keon Johnson to Phoenix, Damian Lillard to Milwaukee, and Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara and Deandre Ayton to Portland.
It’s been challenging for Little, who didn’t play in five of six games during a stretch from Nov. 2 to Nov. 12. After not scoring more than six points in his first seven games, Little has double-figure points in consecutive games after scoring 10 points in Sunday’s win at Utah. He scored seven points, including a 3-pointer, in the third quarter Tuesday.
With 31 points, Durant — in his 1,000th NBA game — passed Elvin Hayes for 11th on the league’s all-time scoring list.
The Suns moved to 2–1 in tournament pool play, 1½ games back of the Los Angeles Lakers in West Group A.
Cole Anthony scored 15 points and dished out a season-high 10 assists in Orlando’s 126–107 Tuesday home In-Season Tournament victory over Toronto. It was Anthony’s first double-figure assist total since his career-high 11 assists in four games during the 2021–22 season, his second season in the league.
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Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley has preached defense for his team. It made a difference down the stretch against the Raptors, and Anthony did his part.
“We strap up, simple as that. We all take pride,” Anthony said. “Jalen [Suggs] and [Joe Ingles], who I like to call the heads of the states on the defensive end — those are two dudes who have all-defensive team potential. I just know, for me, when I’m on the bench, I’m watching how hard Jalen plays on the defensive end; it makes me want to go out there and guard. I think the energy is contagious. Moseley instilled into us that we can be the best defensive team in the league, and I think we’ve been showing that so far.”
Orlando is 2–1 in East Group C, tied with Brooklyn for second place, a half-game behind the Boston Celtics.
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 33 | 6–7, 225 | 14th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting power forward ahead of Keldon Johnson
Season statistics — 64 games, 10.2 points, 44.8 FG%, 38.3 3P%, 84.9 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 51–18, 2nd in Western Conference
Saturday: 115–102 win vs. Charlotte — Didn’t start; 21:54, 2 points, 0–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +2
Monday: 119–115 win at Los Angeles Clippers — Didn’t start; 17:49, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -2
Tuesday: 132–104 win at Sacramento — Started; 21:44, 16 points, 6–7 FG, 4–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +19
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Phoenix
Leaky Black, Washington Wizards guard
Age 26 | 6–6, 209 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Season G League statistics — 38 games, 10.3 points, 45.6 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals
Season NBA statistics — 5 games, 10.0 points, 46.2 FG%, 40.0 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assist
Team record: 16–52, 14th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: 111–100 loss at Boston, Monday: 125–117 loss vs. Golden State and Tuesday: 130–117 loss vs. Detroit— Didn’t play
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Detroit
Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets forward
Age 29 | 6–8, 210 | 7th season | $22.54 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season statistics — 43 games, 11.6 points, 46.3 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 84.3 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 42–27, 5th in Western Conference
Saturday: 127–125 OT loss at Los Angeles Lakers — Started; 43:01, 18 points, 6–13 FG, 4–10 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls, +15
Tuesday: 124–96 win vs. Philadelphia — Started; 23:10, 18 points, 6–8 FG, 3–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, +22
Next game — 8:30 Wednesday vs. Denver
Pete Nance, Milwaukee Bucks center
Age 25 | 6–9, 225 | 3rd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Season G League statistics — 12 games, 19.0 points, 53.7 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks
Season NBA statistics — 35 games, 4.6 points, 57.1 FG%, 47.8 3P%, 2.1 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Team record: 28–40, 11th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: 122–99 loss at Atlanta — 15:28, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–2 3FG, 0–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, -8
Sunday: 134–123 win vs. Indiana — 3:26, +1
Tuesday: 123–116 loss vs. Cleveland — 29:40, 13 points, 5–6 FG, 3–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 foul, +7
Next game — 9 p.m. Thursday at Utah
Drake Powell, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 20 | 6–5, 195 | Rookie season | 4-year NBA rookie contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard
Season NBA statistics — 51 games, 6.1 points, 41.4 FG%, 28.7 3FG%, 90.5 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Season G League statistics — 5 games, 11.8 points, 44.2 FG%, 36.4 3FG%, 72.7 FT%, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals
Team record: 15–51, 13th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: 104–97 loss at Philadelphia — Didn’t play
Monday: 114–95 loss vs. Portland — Started; 18:22, 2 points, 1–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -22
Next Brooklyn game — 7:30 Wednesday vs. Oklahoma City
Next Long Island game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Maine Celtics
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 24 | 6–9, 265 | 5th season | $6.25 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Season statistics —17–50, 13th in Eastern Conference
Out for the season
Coby White, Charlotte Hornets forward
Age 26 | 6–4, 195 | 7th season | $12.88 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup point guard behind LaMelo Ball
Season statistics — 38 games, 17.6 points, 43.6 FG%, 34.0 3PFG, 80.6 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Team record: 35–34, 10th in Eastern Conference
Saturday: 115–102 loss at San Antonio — Didn’t start; 26:10, 18 points, 7–15 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 foul, +4
Tuesday: 136–106 win vs. Miami — Didn’t start; 20:23, 24 points, 8–15 FG, 3–9 3FG, 5–6 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls, +3
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Orlando, NBATV
Out for season
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (torn labrum in left shoulder); season statistics: 5 games, 14.4 points, 70.3 FG%, 75.0 3P%, 70.0 FT%, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.8 blocks
Waived
— Cole Anthony by the Phoenix Suns
— Tony Bradley by the Indiana Pacers
RJ Davis, South Bay Lakers guard
Age 23 | 6–0, 180 | rookie season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2020–25 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 44 games, 18.4 points, 45.6 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 86.1 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Friday: 125–106 win vs. Iowa Wolves — Started; 22 minutes, 16 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 1 block, -1
Sunday: 129–122 win at Rip City Remix — Started; 38 minutes, 24 points, 8–16 FG, 3–6 3FG, 5–7 FT, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 fouls, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 block, +6
Tuesday: 133–126 OT loss at Rip City Remix — Started; 38 minutes, 29 points, 10–19 FG, 5–9 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, +8
Next game — 10 p.m. Friday vs. Grand Rapids Gold
Harrison Ingram, Austin Spurs forward
Age 23 | 6–5, 230 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 34 games, 16.1 points, 48.7 FG%, 33.9 3P%, 61.8 FT%, 12.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.1 steals
Sunday: 106–104 loss vs. Stockton Kings — Started, 27 minutes, 15 points, 5–13 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3–4 FT, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 blocks, +2
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at College Park Skyhawks, ESPN+
Caleb Love, Rip City Remix (Trail Blazers) guard
Age 24 | 6–3, 212 | Rookie season | Two-way contract | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
NBA season statistics — 45 games (limited to 50 under his two-way contract), 11.3 points, 39.0 FG%, 32.1 3P%, 73.5 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists
G League season statistics — 8 games, 24.3 points, 44.8 FG%, 22.7 3P%, 71.4 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.8 turnovers
Sunday: 129–122 loss vs. South Bay Lakers — Started; 41 minutes, 25 points, 9–21 FG, 4–12 3FG, 2–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 fouls, 4 steals, 5 turnovers, +/- of 0
Tuesday: 133–126 OT win vs. South Bay Lakers — Started; 33 minutes, 28 points, 11–17 FG, 2–6 3FG, 2–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers, +6
Next game — 9:30 Friday vs. Raptors 905
Cormac Ryan, Wisconsin Herd (Bucks) guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | Two-way contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Season statistics — 31 games, 20.9 points, 48.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 89.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals
Monday: 116–115 loss at Windy City Bulls— 33 minutes, 29 points, 9–17 FG, 3–5 3FG, 5–5 FT, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals, +12
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday vs. Motor City Cruise
