Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson, White, Anthony and Barnes playing well; Nets, Magic surging

By R.L. Bynum

Cameron Johnson and Coby White are playing well heading into Sunday’s Brooklyn-Chicago game, while Cole Anthony, Harrison Barnes and their teams are on a roll.

Johnson put up a double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals Saturday in the Brooklyn Nets’ 112–97 home win over Miami to end a three-game losing streak, with White and the Bulls playing at Brooklyn at 7:30 on Sunday.

Johnson gave the Nets energy early with 12 first-quarter points.

“I was trying to be in the right positions, stay aggressive,” he said. “I think an emphasis today was to come out and make a statement from the beginning and make them have to climb an uphill battle.”

Day’Ron Sharpe contributed four points, four rebounds and two blocks in 12 minutes.


White had 14 points, three rebounds and three rebounds Friday in Chicago’s 121-108 loss to Toronto that eliminated the Bulls from contention in the In-Season Tournament at 0–3.

White is averaging 17.7 points in the last four games.


Anthony collected 16 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals in Orlando’s 113–96 Friday home win over the Boston Celtics for the Magic’s sixth consecutive victory.

The In-Season Tournament win gave Orlando a 3–1 record lead in Group C play, ahead of the 2–1 Celtics.


Barnes scored 18 points and two 3-pointers with four rebounds and two assists in Sacramento’s 124–111 Friday victory at Minnesota. The In-Season Tournament win clinched a spot in the quarterfinals as the Kings improved to 3–0 in Group C.


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“It’s always good to compete for something else,” said Barnes, who scored 10 of his points in the first quarter.


Walker Kessler returned for Utah on Saturday after missing seven games with a left elbow sprain. He came off the bench for the first time this season, collecting 11 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the Jazz’s 104–100 win over New Orleans.


Nassir Little had two points and four rebounds in 16 minutes of Phoenix’s 110–89 win at Memphis.


Reggie Bullock didn’t play (coach’s decision) in Houston’s 105–86 Friday home win over Denver. He’s played in only two of the Rockets’ last seven games.


After contributing 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and five steals in the Greensboro Swarm’s 111–100 Friday loss to Maine in the G League, Leaky Black got called up to the Charlotte roster with the Hornets playing Sunday night against Orlando.


The Texas Legends lost two home games against Mexico City this weekend, 119–116 on Friday and 117–84 on Saturday.

Justin Jackson had 17 points and five 3-pointers Friday and 22 points with five 3-pointers Saturday. Theo Pinson had 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists Friday, then collected eight points and two assists on Saturday. Tony Bradley still hasn’t made his season debut.


Pete Nance had six points, nine rebounds and four assists in the Cleveland Charge’s 101–92 Friday loss at Motor City.

Cole Anthony, Milwaukee Bucks guard
Age 25 | 6–2, 185 | 6th season | $2.67 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

Roster situation — Third-string point guard behind Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins
Season statistics 33 games, 7.0 points, 44.6 FG%, 32.8 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Team record: 18–27, 12th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 139–122 loss at Philadelphia 14:13, 10 points, 3–8 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 asisst, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -17
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday at Washington, Prime Video


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 46 games, 10.6 points, 43.6 FG%, 36.0 3P%, 87.3 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 32–15, 2nd in Western Conference
Wednesday: 111–99 win at Houston —Started; 28:46, 9 points, 4–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 foul, +1
Next game 3 p.m. Saturday at Charlotte, Prime Video


Roster situation — Third-string center behind Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson
Season statistics — 38 games, 4.0 points, 55.7 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 74.4 FT%, 2.8 rebounds
Team record: 12–36, 14th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 113–110 win vs. Chicago — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Atlanta


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 28 games, 11.7 points, 46.1 FG%, 42.9 3P%, 81.0 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 31–16, 3rd in Western Conference
Out for at least a month with a bone bruise and hyperextended right knee


Roster situation Backup point guard behind Deni Avdija/fourth-string 2 guard
Season statistics — 39 games, 11.3 points, 39.3 FG%, 32.8 3P%, 74.4 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Team record: 23–24, 9th in Western Conference
Thursday: Blazers 127, Heat 110 Didn’t start; 33:30, 20 points, 8–19 FG, 4–12 3FG, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers, +15
Friday: Raptors 110, Blazers 98 Didn’t start; 28:41, 11 points, 4–9 FG, 3–6 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 turnovers, -1
Monday: (at) Celtics 102, Blazer 94 Didn’t start; 25:45, 11 points, 5–14 FG, 1–7 3FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, -1
Next game 7:30 Friday at New York


Roster situation Starting shooting guard
Season statistics 34 games, 6.1 points, 44.0 FG%, 30.6 3FG%, 89.7 FT%, 1.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 of a steal
Team record: 12–33, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 106–102 loss at Phoenix Started; 8:28, 1 turnover, -9
Next game 9 p.m. Thursday at Denver


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 43 games, 7.8 points, 60.3 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 67.3 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 12–33, 13th in Eastern Conference
Tuesday: 106–102 loss at Phoenix Didn’t start; 19:19, 7 points, 3–5 FG, 1–2 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 foul, +5
Next game 9 p.m. Thursday at Denver


Coby White, Chicago Bulls forward
Age 25 | 6–4, 195 | 7th season | $12.88 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

Roster situation Starting shooting guard ahead of Ayo Dosunmu
Season statistics — 26 games, 18.8 points, 45.2 FG%, 36.6 3PFG, 79.8 FT%, 3.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Team record: 23–24, 9th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 113–110 loss at Indiana Started; 31:34, 14 points, 5–15 FG, 1–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls, -9
Next game 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Miami


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


Season statistics — 27 games, 11.1 points, 46.2 FG%, 35.1 3P%, 68.0 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.0 steals
Thursday: (at) Austin Spurs 110, Capital City 103 Started; 37 minutes, 15 points, 6–11 FG, 3–7 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 2 blocks, -4
Friday: Capital City 112, (at) Austin Spurs 96 Started; 36 minutes, 10 points, 4–11 FG, 2–5 3FG, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 1 block, +24
Next game 8 p.m. Friday vs. Wisconsin Herd


Season statistics — 26 games, 5.3 points, 44.3 FG%, 36.8 3P%, 68.4 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.4 of a block
Wednesday: 115–97 win vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce Inactive for game
Next game 7 p.m. Friday at Noblesville Boom


Season statistics — 26 games, 18.0 points, 43.0 FG%, 38.6 3P%, 87.3 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Tuesday: 121–107 win vs. College Park Skyhawks Started; 30 minutes, 21 points, 7–18 FG, 3–7 3FG, 2–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +17
Next game 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Salt Lake City Stars, ESPN+


Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 20 games, 14.6 points, 48.1 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 60.0 FT%, 11.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Tuesday: 116–107 win at Valley Suns Started; 27 minutes, 9 points, 4–12 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1–3 FT, 12 rebounds, 5 assist, 2 fouls 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +5
Next game 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Stockton Kings, ESPN+


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 — 15 games, 2.9 points, 54.8 FG%, 50.0 3P%, 1.2 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Tuesday in NBA with Bucks: 139–122 loss at Philadelphia 2:23, 2 points, 1–2 FG, -3
Next game 2 p.m. Friday at Capital City Go-Go


Season statistics — 21 games, 20.0 points, 49.5 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 92.5 FT%, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals
Thursday: Noblesville Boom 95, Wisconsin 90 Started; 31 minutes, 23 points, 9–12 FG, 5–8 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, -2
Saturday: Noblesville Boom 117, Wisconsin 115 Started; 37 minutes, 25 points, 8–13 FG, 3–5 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 fouls, 1 steal, 6 turnovers, -17
Next game 2 p.m. Friday at Capital City Go-Go


Photo via @brooklynnets

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