By R.L. Bynum
Cameron Johnson led six UNC alums scoring in double figures Saturday night with 18 points and was part of Brooklyn inflicting dubious NBA history on the Detroit Pistons, with the Nets having a chance to add to that.
Day’Ron Sharpe added 11 points in the Nets’ 126–115 victory. The Pistons tied the NBA record with their 26th consecutive loss as Brooklyn ended a five-game losing streak.
The Pistons, who would break the record with another loss to Brooklyn in Detroit on Tuesday, matched the Philadelphia 76ers’ skid from the end of the 2014–15 season to the beginning of the 2015–16 season.
Detroit put up a fight, taking a two-point lead after putting together a 12–4 third-quarter run. But Johnson ended the run with a layup, then assisted on a Nic Claxton dunk.
“You gotta be able to weather those storms and be able to fight back,” said Johnson, averaging 18.3 points while shooting 60.6% from the floor and making 52.9% of his 3-point attempts in the last three games. “The bench came in and did a fantastic job of giving that buffer.”
It was a strange situation for Johnson because Detroit’s first-year coach is Monty Williams, his former coach in Phoenix, who the Suns fired after last season.
“I told them, some of the young guys on the team after the game, that sometimes you got to lose before you can win, sometimes you got to fall before you crawl, walk before you can run,” said Johnson, adding that he thinks Williams can build a contender.
Detroit is the third team to start 2–28 after Cleveland in 2010–11 and Philadelphia in 2013–14,
Johnson was 6 of 10 from the floor with two 3-pointers, two rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Nets (14–15) for a 15.2 game score. Sharpe was 5 of 6 from the floor with three rebounds, an assist and a block.
For only the second time in the last nine games, Coby White failed to score 20 points. For the third time all season, he didn’t score a 3-pointer.
It all added up to a 109–95 Chicago home loss to Cleveland in the Bulls’ second game in as many nights. White had 17 points, four rebounds, and seven assists on 8 of 19 shooting while missing all eight 3-point attempts to end the Bulls’ three-game win streak.
It’s still been a fantastic December for White, who is averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists for the month.
Cole Anthony had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists as Orlando won at Indiana 117–110 to snap a four-game losing streak. The Magic (17–11) are 1–4 on a road trip that concludes Tuesday in Washington.
Harrison Barnes contributed 12 points and three rebounds, but host Sacramento lost 110–98 to Minnesota. Barnes missed both 3-point attempts as the Kings scored a season-low eight 3-pointers on 33 attempts.
In Utah’s 126–119 victory at Toronto, Walker Kessler collected 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
Neither Charlotte’s Leaky Black (coach’s decision) nor Houston’s Reggie Bullock (illness) played in their teams’ games Saturday night.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 24 | 6–2, 185 | 5th season | $12.9 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting point guard/shooting guard
Season statistics — 51 games, 13 starts, 9.2 points, 42.5 FG%, 32.5 3P% (career-low), 78.6 FT% (career-low), 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 of a steal
Season-highs — 35 points, 8 rebounds (also at Charlotte Nov. 25), 31.1 game score Dec. 21 vs. Miami; 3 3-pointers five times; 11 assists Jan. 3 at Toronto; 3 steals Oct. 25 vs. Brooklyn
Record — 27–29; 7th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday at Atlanta
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 32 | 6–8, 225 | 13th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Keldon Johnson
Season statistics — 52 games, 52 starts, 11.9 points, 50.2 FG% (career-high), 41.8 3P% (career-high), 80.7 FT%, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Season-highs — 25 points, 10 rebounds Nov. 21 vs. Utah; 7 3-pointers Feb. 8 at Orlando; 7 assists Jan. 29 vs. Los Angeles Clippers; 24.3 game score Nov. 23 vs. Golden State
Record — 23–29; 12th in Western Conference
Next game — 9:30 Thursday vs. Phoenix, TNT
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 28 | 6–8, 210 | 6th season | $22.5 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting small forward ahead of Trendon Watford
Season statistics — 39 games, 39 starts, 19.1 points, 48.8 FG% (career-high), 41.3 3P%, 89.4 FT% (career-high), 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 of a steal, 0.5 of a block
Season-highs — 37 points, 9 3-pointers Nov. 22 at Philadelphia; 10 rebounds, 6 assists (also Nov. 27 at Phoenix), 31.1 game score Dec. 19 at Toronto;
Record — 20–34; 12th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Cleveland
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 23 | 7–0, 245 | 3rd season | $2.97 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center ahead of Kyle Filipowski
Season statistics — 42 games, 42 starts; 11.3 points (career-high), 71.8 FG% (career-high), 55.4 FT%, 11.8 rebounds (career-high), 1.5 assists (career-high), 2.4 blocks; missed Thursday’s game with a left thumb sprain
Season-highs — 21 points Jan. 7 vs. Atlanta; 26.3 game score Nov. 30 vs. Dallas; 22 rebounds Feb. 7 at Phoenix; 5 assists Nov. 27 vs. Denver and Jan. 1 at New York; 6 blocks Feb. 12 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Record — 13–41; 14th in Western Conference
Next game — 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. Sacramento
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 22 | 6–9, 265 | 4th season | $3.8 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
Roster situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Statistics last season — 32 games, 0 starts, 8.2 points (career-high), 52.2 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 77.4 FT% (career-high), 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists (career-high), 0.6 of a block; missed first 20 games with a left hamstring strain
Season-highs — 16 points, 5 assists, 20.3 game score Jan. 6 vs. Indiana; 14 rebounds Jan. 15 at Los Angeles Clippers; 3 steals Dec. 16 vs. Cleveland, Jan. 27 vs. Sacramento; 13.2 game score Dec. 16 vs. Cleveland; 3 blocks Jan. 4 vs. Houston
Record — 20–34; 12th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Cleveland
Coby White, Chicago Bulls forward
Age 24 | 6–5, 195 | 6th season | $12 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting small forward
Season statistics — 48 games, 48 starts, 18.2 points, 42.7 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 89.4 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 of a steal
Season-highs — 35 points, 4 steals (also 2 other times), 31.7 game score Oct. 25 at Milwaukee; 9 3-pointers Jan. 4 vs. New York; 10 rebounds Dec. 30 at Charlotte; 9 assists four times
Record — 22–33; 10th in Eastern Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday at New York
Tar Heels in G League
Armando Bacot, Memphis Hustle center
Age 24 | 6–11, 240 | rookie season | UNC 2019–24 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 32 games, 15.0 points, 44.6 FG%, 31.8 3P%, 74.3 FT%, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks
Season-highs — 35 points Feb. 12 vs. Mexico City; 17 rebounds Nov. 9 vs. Rio Grande; 6 assists twice; 4 steals at Delaware on Jan. 12; 3 blocks Jan. 24 vs. Sioux Falls; 6 3-pointers vs. Rip City on Jan. 15
Record — 15–19; 12th in Western Conference
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Rio Grande, ESPN+
Leaky Black, Capital City Go-Go guard
Age 25 | 6–6, 209 | 2nd season | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
Season statistics — 27 games, 6.7 points, 48.6 FG% (career-high), 35.6 3P% (career-high), 70.6 FT% (career-high), 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 of a block
Season-highs — 14 points, 3 blocks Nov. 13 at Greensboro, Jan. 23 at Osceola; 10 rebounds Feb. 8 vs. Oklahoma City; 4 assists, 3 3-pointers Nov. 24 at Maine; 4 steals Jan. 26 at Wisconsin
Record — 20–14; 4th in East Division
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday at Wisconsin, ESPN+
Harrison Ingram, Austin Spurs forward
Age 21 | 6–7, 230 | rookie season | $578,577 salary (2-way contract) | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
NBA season statistics with San Antonio — 2 games, 11 minutes, 0 points, 0–2 FG, 0–2 3PFG, 2 rebound, 1 foul
G League season statistics — 35 games, 10.9 points, 37.8 FG%, 29.1 3P%, 57.9 FT%, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals
Season-highs — 22 points, 4 3-pointers (also 4 other times) Nov. 22 at Birmingham, Jan. 4 at Raptors 905; 16 rebounds vs. Rio Grande Jan. 20; 8 assists Nov. 26 vs. Birmingham; twice, last Nov. 15 vs. Texas; 8 assists Nov. 26 vs. Birmingham; 4 3-pointers Dec. 15 vs. Oklahoma City
Record — 20–14; 7th in Western Conference
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Mexico City, ESPN+
Nassir Little, Sioux Falls Skyforce forward
Age 24 | 6–6, 220 | 6th season | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Season statistic — 36 games, 17.0 points, 48.9 FG%, 35.0 3P%, 81.0 FT%, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.1 blocks
Season-highs — 29 points, 5 3-pointers Jan. 27 at Mexico City; 10 rebounds 3 times; 6 assists twice; 3 steals five times; 3 blocks 3 times
Record — 22–12; 2nd in Western Conference
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Iowa, ESPN+
Sterling Manley, Rip City Remix center
Age 25 | 6–11, 250 | Rookie season | UNC 2017–21 (3 season2)
Season statistics — 21 games, 9.2 points, 62.2 FG%, 64.5 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.6 of a block
Season-highs — 18 points Dec. 8 vs. Santa Cruz, Jan. 6 vs. Stockton; 9 rebounds Nov. 25 vs. Valley, Jan. 22 vs. Utah; 3 blocks Jan. 1 vs. San Diego
Record — 18–14; 10th in Western Conference
Next game — 10 p.m. Thursday at South Bay, ESPN+
Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge center
Age 24 | 6–10, 225 | 2nd season | 2-way contract | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Began season with Cleveland Charge; signed two-way contract with Philadelphia Dec. 3 (played 8 games for Delaware and was released); re-signed with Charge
Season statistics — 18 games, 15.5 points, 47.8 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 69.0 FT%, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 of a steal, 1.5 blocks
Season-highs — 29 points, 5 3-pointers Nov. 10 vs. Indiana; 11 rebounds twice, last Nov. 24 at Motor City; 6 assists Dec. 20 at Santa Cruz; 3 steals Nov. 30 vs. Grand Rapids, Feb. 2 vs. Osceola; 4 blocks Nov. 14 at Sioux City
Record — 15–19; 11th in East Conference
Next game — 4 p.m. Saturday vs. Birmingham, Tubi
Cormac Ryan, Oklahoma City Blue guard
Age 25 | 6–5, 195 | rookie season | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Season statistics — 23 games, 11.5 points, 42.6 FG%, 40.6 3P%, 40.6 3P%; 97.4 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal
Season-highs — 25 points, 5 3-pointers, 3 steals Nov. 30 at Rio Grande; 7 rebounds twice; 5 assists twice
Record — 21–13; third place in Western Conference
Season opener — 10 p.m. Friday at Santa Cruz, Tubi
Photo via YouTube video screengrab
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