By R.L. Bynum
It was a huge night in the NBA for Harrison Barnes, Coby White and Leaky Black.
Barnes and the Sacramento Kings shook off recent struggles, White came an assist shy of a triple-double in his best game of the season, and Black made huge plays in the final seconds of Charlotte’s victory.
Barnes emerged from a tough stretch of games, scoring 32 points and four 3-pointers for a 24.2 game score in the Kings’ 122–107 home victory over the Atlanta Hawks to snap a four-game losing streak.
“I thought he was really aggressive,” Kings coach Mike Brown said. “He scored in multiple areas on the floor tonight. That was a lot of fun to see.”
Barnes had combined for 34 points in the previous six games, including going scoreless in a win over Detroit on Jan. 9 and only getting two points in Thursday’s 126–121 home loss to Indiana.
Monday, though, he scored 19 points in the first half, and was 10 of 20 from the floor and 4 of 8 from 3-point range for the game, producing his best scoring game since 33 points at Utah on opening night.
“Down the stretch, we basically went to him three or four straight times, or called his number three or four straight times, and good things happened almost every time he touched the ball,” Brown said. “He had a great game from start to finish on the offensive end of the floor.”
White keeps stacking outstanding games for the Chicago Bulls, and has scored more than 20 in two of the last three games.
In Monday night’s 115–113 road loss to the Phoenix Suns, White collected a team-high 26 points, with four 3-pointers, 10 rebounds, nine assists and two steals to narrowly miss a triple-double. His 29.7 game score was a season-high.
Kevin Durant was too much for the Bulls, scoring 43 points and sinking the 17-foot game-winning jumper with 1.6 seconds left after the Suns rallied from a 23-point deficit.
“Kevin Durant was Kevin Durant,” White said. “Yeah — he’s tough.”
White’s effort came after contributing 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists in Thursday’s 116–110 win at Toronto, then 17 points, five rebounds and four assists in Saturday’s 125–96 home victory over Memphis.
Nassir Little, after playing four scoreless minutes in the Suns’ 123–109 Friday win at New Orleans, didn’t play against the Bulls or in Sunday’s 117–110 home win over Indiana (coach’s decision).
Black played five strong minutes and made some huge plays at the end of Charlotte’s 128–125 Monday victory over Minnesota after not playing (coach’s decision) in the Hornets’ previous two games.
The Timberwolves ‘ Karl-Anthony Towns scored a franchise-record 62 points, including 44 in the first half. But Black ripped the ball away from Towns on a drive with three seconds left. Black then secured Charlotte’s 10th win by making two free throws with two seconds left. He had never previously made an NBA free-throw attempt.
“Obviously, it feels good when the coach puts you into the fire like that, especially with a game on the line,” said Black, who was credited with a block and a rebound on that defensive play. “Some players will complain about it, but everybody just tells me to stay ready. They know why I’m here. They know I’m a defensive-minded player. I was just ready.”
Black was +10, scoring a season-high seven points and also collecting three rebounds, an assist and a block.
After playing three scoreless minutes in his NBA debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers in their 116–95 Saturday win at Atlanta, Pete Nance was back in the G League Monday. He contributed 25 points, five 3-pointers and eight rebounds in the Cleveland Charge’s 118–106 win at Osceola.
The Texas Legends lost two weekend home games against Rio Grande, 126–119 on Friday and 132–118 on Saturday. Justin Jackson had 23 points on Friday and 13 on Saturday. Theo Pinson scored 18 Friday and 14 Saturday. Tony Bradley was inactive for both games.
Cameron Johnson scored 10 points in Brooklyn’s 130–112 Friday road win over the Los Angeles Lakers and had nine in Sunday’s 125–114 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Day’Ron Sharpe missed both games with a hyperextended left knee.
Walker Kessler had seven points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in Utah’s 127–126 overtime road loss to Houston on Saturday night. Reggie Bullock hasn’t played in the Rockets’ last four games as he is dealing with a strained lower back.
Cole Anthony, battling an ankle injury, has combined for only 13 points in Orlando’s last three games, two of them losses.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 23 | 6–3, 185 | fourth NBA season | $5,539,771 salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
113–88 Sunday win vs. Milwaukee — 17 minutes, 13 points, 5–9 FG, 1–3 3PFG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover 3 fouls, +13
Season statistics — 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Record — Finished 47–35, 5th in Eastern Conference; Next game — Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 5 East seed at No. 4 Cleveland
Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Age 31 | 6–8, 225 | 12th NBA season | $17,000,000 salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)
121–82 Sunday win vs. Portland — Started; 31 minutes, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, +37
Season statistics — 82 games, 12.2 points, 47.4 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Record — Finished 46–36, tied for 9th in Western Conference; Next game — 10 p.m. Tuesday as No. 9 seed in play-in tournament vs. No. 10 Golden State, TNT (loser eliminated)
Leaky Black, Charlotte Hornets guard
Age 24 | 6–9, 209 | rookie NBA season | Two-way contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
120–110 Sunday win at Cleveland — 32 minutes, 11 points, 4–4 FG, 2–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, +22
NBA season statistics — 26 games, 2.7 points, 48.1 FG%, 45.0 3FG%, 66.7 FT%, 1.8 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist
G League season statistics — 25 games, 7.1 points, 43.7 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 61.9 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 of a block
Record — Finished 21–61, 13th in Eastern Conference;
Reggie Bullock, Houston Rockets guard
Age 32 | 6–6, 205 | 11th NBA season | $10,489,600 salary | UNC 2010–13 (3 seasons)
116–106 Sunday loss at Los Angeles Clippers — 6 minutes, 0 points, 0–1 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 turnovers, 1 foul, -1
Season statistics — 44 games, 2.2 points, 41.5 FG%, 40.3 3P%, 1–1 FT, 1.7 rebounds, 0.3 of an assist
Record — Finished 41–41, 11th in Western Conference
Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets forward
Age 27 | 6–8, 210 | fifth NBA season | $25,679,348 salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)
107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia — Didn’t play (left big toe sprain); missed last two games
Season statistics — 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Record — Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Age 22 | 7–0, 245 | second NBA season | $2,831,160 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
123–116 Sunday loss at Golden State — Didn’t play (nasal fracture); missed last six games
Season statistics — 64 games, 8.1 points, 65.5 FG%, 21.1 3P%, 60.2 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 2.4 blocks
Record — Finished 31–51, 12th in Western Conference
Nassir Little, Phoenix Sun wing
Age 23 | 6–4, 220 | fifth NBA season | $6,250,060 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
125–106 Sunday win at Minnesota — 5 minutes, 4 points, 2–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, -5
Season statistics — 45 games, 3.4 points, 46.0 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 0.5 of an assist
Record — Finished 49–33, 6th in Western Conference; Next game — Saturday, Game 1 of the first-round series as No. 6 seed at No. 3 Minnesota
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Age 21 | 6–9, 265 | third NBA season | $2,210,040 salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)
107–86 Sunday loss at Philadelphia — Didn’t play (wrist injury); missed three of last six games
Season statistics — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Record — Finished 32–50, 11th in Eastern Conference
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 23 | 6–5, 195 | fifth NBA season | $11,111,111 salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
120–119 Sunday overtime loss at New York — Started; 43 minutes, 26 points, 12–18 FG, 0–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +1
Season statistics — 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Record — Finished 39–43, 9th in Eastern Conference; Next game — 9:30 Wednesday as No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 Atlanta in play-in tournament, ESPN (loser eliminated)
In G League
Tony Bradley, Texas Legends center
Age 25 | 6–11, 248 | seventh pro season | UNC 2016–17 (1 season)
Season statistics — 17 games, 14.1 points, 67.1 FG%, 71.9 FT%, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 block
Record — Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup
Justin Jackson, Texas Legends guard
Age 28 | 6–8, 220 | seventh pro season | UNC 2014–17 (3 seasons)
Season G League statistics — 44 games, 19.9 points, 46.4 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 85.0 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.7 of a steal, 0.5 of a block
Season NBA statistics (with Minnesota) — 2 games, 1 minute, 0 points
Record — Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup
Pete Nance, Cleveland Charge
Age 23 | 6–10, 225 | rookie pro season | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
G League season statistics — 42 games; 13.2 points, 46.8 FG%, 35.8 3FG%, 74.5 FT%, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 of a steal, 1.5 blocks
Season NBA season statistics (with Cleveland) — 8 games, 27 minutes, 3 points, 1–6 FG, 1–1 3FG, 0–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 2 fouls
Record — Finished 15–7, 11th in Eastern Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup
Theo Pinson, Texas Legends guard
Age 27 | 6–7, 212 | sixth pro season | UNC 2014–18 (4 seasons)
Season statistics — 46 games, 14.8 points, 42.6 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 82.2 FT%, 6.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 of a block
Record — Finished 18–16, 9th in Western Conference; finished 6–10 in Showcase Cup
Photo via @SacramentoKings
tarheeltribune.com 
