Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes does it all for Kings with career-high 39 as Kings win thriller against Warriors, his former team; White scores 25

By R.L. Bynum

Harrison Barnes did it all for Sacramento on Thursday night to help the Kings win a thriller over one of his former teams.

The 12-year NBA veteran scored a career-high 39 points and seven 3-pointers, hitting consecutive clutch baskets and getting a huge block as the Kings earned a 134–133 road victory over the Golden State Warriors before a national TNT audience.

“It feels good,” Barnes told TNT after the game about beating his former team, as the Kings start a seven-game road trip. He put up a season-high 31.1 game score, his highest since producing a 33.2 when he scored 36 points and a career-high eight 3-pointers against Portland on Oct. 20, 2021.

His teammates could sense that Barnes, who was 14 of 25 from the floor and 7 of 12 from 3-point range, was in a zone and kept feeding him the ball.

“The way you have a high-powered offense is all five guys are going to have to make sacrifices at times,” said Barnes, who notched his 22nd game with at least 30 points, third this season and second in a row.

Barnes’ 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter gave the Kings a 104–101 lead and another Barnes 3 pushed their lead to six with 7:01 remaining.

After Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis’ dunk gave the Kings a one-point lead with 22 seconds left, Barnes blocked a driving shot by Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga with 18 seconds left. After Sacramento’s Kevin Huerter made two free throws with 15 seconds left, Golden State’s Stephen Curry turned the ball over with one second left.

“I think the biggest thing, honestly, is just getting this road trip started off right,” Barnes told the Sacramento Bee. “We talked about the importance of where we’re at in the season and how we’ve been playing lately, and I think just starting this road trip with a win was important for us.”

After Barnes combined for 28 points during the Kings’ four-game losing streak, he has scored 71 as they have won back-to-back games after collecting 32 in Monday’s 122–107 win over Atlanta.

“We feel like we have a good team, and when the ball is moving, I want to take open shots. When the ball is finding me, I just try to maximize my opportunities,” Barnes said.

Barnes’ scoring average and shots have gone down most of the season, with De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray getting the bulk of Sacramento’s offensive load. But Barnes has shot well throughout, making 48.3% of his shots on the season and 41% from 3-point range.

Kings coach Mike Brown said he called more plays for Barnes on Thursday than for any other game this season.

“I think a lot of it just happens in the flow,” Fox said. “But that’s kind of how he is getting going, and once he’s going, there is more of an effort to get him the ball in certain spots.”


Coby White had another big game with 25 points, three 3-pointers, seven rebounds and three assists, but in a 141–132 Thursday road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, who got 25 points and 12 assists from LeBron James.

White made 8 of 18 shots, including 3 of 10 from 3-point range and had seven rebounds and three assists.


Brooklyn has lost three in a row. Cameron Johnson scored 19 points and four 3-pointers in the Nets’ 108–105 home loss Tuesday to New York, then had five points, four rebounds and three assists in Thursday’s 96–94 home loss to Minnesota. Day’Ron Sharpe missed both games with a hyperextended left knee.


Walker Kessler had six points and four blocks in Utah’s 153–124 Tuesday loss at New Orleans, and four points and three rebounds in Wednesday’s 123–108 victory at Washington.


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Leaky Black made his only shot, a 3-point attempt, and had two rebounds in Charlotte’s 113–106 Wednesday loss at Detroit.


Nassir Little, in his first action in three games, had two points in four minutes Wednesday in Phoenix’s 132–109 victory at Dallas.


Pete Nance played two scoreless minutes for Cleveland in the Cavaliers’ 126–116 Wednesday loss at Milwaukee.


Reggie Bullock missed his fourth consecutive Houston Rockets game Wednesday with a strained lower back.

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 27 games, 6.5 points, 42.8 FG%, 28.5 3P%, 59.1 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists
Team record: 15–20, 11th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: Wizards 114, Bucks 113, Friday: Bucks 122, Hornets 121 and Sunday: Bucks 115 (at) Kings 98 Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game 10 p.m. Wednesday at Golden State


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 35 games, 12.0 points, 45.1 FG%, 38.1 3P%, 88.6 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 25–10, 2nd in Western Conference
Wednesday: Spurs 134, Knicks 132 — Started; 25:45, 7 points, 2–6 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls
Friday: Spurs 123, (at) Pacers 113 — Started; 21:00, 5 points, 1–7 FG, 1–6 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, -15
Saturday: Trail Blazers 115, Spurs 110 — Started; 31:54, 14 points, 5–11 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +4
Next game 8 p.m. Tuesday at Memphis


Roster situation Third-string center behind Jay Huff and Isaiah Jackson
Season statistics 29 games, 3.9 points, 56.3 FG%, 0–1 3FG, 72.7 FT%, 2.6 rebounds
Team record: 6–30, 15th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: Magic 112, Pacers 110 11:42, 0–2 FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -9
Friday: Spurs 123, Pacers 113 Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Sunday: (at) Magic 135, Pacers 127 7:11, 1 rebound, 1 block, +1
Next game 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Cleveland


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: 23–12, 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 — 28 games, 9.9 points, 38.0 FG%, 32.1 3P%, 74.2 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 16–20, 9th in Western Conference
Wednesday: (at) Thunder 124, Blazers 95 Didn’t start; 30:08, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 2–7 3FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, -11
Friday: Blazers 122, (at) Pelicans 109 Didn’t start; 27:33, 22 points, 7–13 FG, 6–11 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, +3
Saturday: Blazers 115, (at) Spurs 110 Didn’t start; 27:55, 16 points, 6–13 FG, 3–9 3FG, 1–4 FG, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, -4
Next game 10 p.m. Monday vs. Utah


Roster situation Backup 2 guard behind Terance Mann
Season statistics 24 games, 6.3 points, 48.1 FG%, 36.0 3FG%, 90.3 FT%, 1.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Team record: 11–22, 13th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: Rockets 120, Nets 97 Started; 25:19, 8 points, 3–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–3 FT, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, -25
Friday: (at) Wizards 119, Nets 99 Didn’t start; 21:41, 14 points, 5–6 FG, 1–2 3FG, 3–3 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover, -17
Sunday: Nets 127, Nuggets 115 Didn’t start; 17:31, 5 points, 1–3 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 assist, 1 foul, -2
Next game 7:30 Wednesday vs. Orlando


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 32 games, 7.6 points, 60.5 FG%, 23.1 3P%, 64.6 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 11–22, 13th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: Rockets 120, Nets 97 19:11, 8 points 4–6 FG, 0–1 3FG, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, -2
Friday: (at) Wizards 119, Nets 99 Started; 29:51, 14 points, 6–12 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -13
Sunday: Nets 127, Nuggets 115 Started; 32:06, 17 points, 6–9 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5–8 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +17
Next game 7:30 Wednesday vs. Orlando


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 — 16 games, 19.2 points, 44.5 FG%, 32.4 3PFG, 79.6 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Team record: 17–18, 9th in Eastern Conference
Out with right calf strain


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 — 19 games, 10.9 points, 44.4 FG%, 28.0 3P%, 69.6 FT%, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.0 steals
Team record: 3–2, 5th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 6–8, fifth in East Division
Thursday: Capital City 139, Westchester Knicks 90 Started; 29 minutes, 13 points, 5–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 foul, 5 steals, 2 blocks, +39
Saturday: (at) Maine Celtics 112, Capital City 109 Started; 35 minutes, 15 points, 4–10 FG, 4–9 3FG, 1–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 2 turnovers, +9
Next game 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Motor City Cruise, ESPN+


Season statistics — 17 games, 5.2 points, 43.8 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 53.8 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a block
Team record: 4–4, 8th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 5–7, seventh in South Division
Tuesday: Birmingham 132, (at) College Park Skyhawks 14 minutes, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, +15
Thursday: (at) College Park Skyhawks 107, Birmingham 83 23 minutes, 7 points, 2–5 FG, 1–2 3FG, 1–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, -9
Saturday: Birmingham 110, (at) Delaware Blue Coats 108 20 minutes, 6 points, 2–5 FG, 2–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, +12
Sunday: (at) Delaware Blue Coats 130, Birmingham 94 31 minutes, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, -24
Next game 8 p.m. Thursday vs. Osceola Magic, ESPN +


Season statistics — 17 games, 17.7 points, 43.5 FG%, 35.3 3P%, 87.2 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steal
Team record: 3–1, tied for 2nd in Western Conference; finished Showcase Cup 7–7, fifth in West Division
Saturday: South Bay 125, Memphis Hustle 121 Didn’t start; 12 minutes, 2 points, 0–3 FG, 1–1 FT, 4 assists, 2 fouls, -15
Next game 10 p.m. Tuesday vs. Memphis Hustle, 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 — 11 games, 16.8 points, 53.0 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals
Team record: 1–2, tied for 8th in Western Conference; finished Showcase Cup 12–2, first in South Division
Wednesday: Santa Cruz Warriors 111, Austin 102 and Friday: Santa Cruz Warriors 112, Austin 105 Didn’t play
Next game 7 p.m. Friday vs. South Bay Lakers, Roku Sports Channel


Season G League statistics — 9 games, 19.4 points, 56.5 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 76.9 FT%, 7.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 blocks
Season NBA statistics — 9 games, 32 minutes, 18 points, 7–14 FG, 4–9 3FG, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Team record: 0–4, 16th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 4–10, eighth in Central Division
Tuesday: Cleveland Charge 115, Wisconsin 107 Started; 36 minutes, 20 points, 7–16 FG, 2–7 3FG, 3–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, -9
Saturday: Wisconsin 89, (at) Stockton Kings 87 Started; 34 minutes, 11 points, 5–14, 0–1 3FG, 1–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 foul, 1 steal, 3 blocks, +6
Next game 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cleveland Charge, ESPN+


Season statistics — 11 games, 19.3 points, 50.3 FG%, 36.1 3P%, 98.3 FT%, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Team record: 0–4, 16th in Eastern Conference; finished Showcase Cup 4–10, eighth in Central Division
Tuesday: Cleveland Charge 115, Wisconsin 107 Started; 35 minutes, 32 points, 12–17 FG, 3–8 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, -7
Saturday: Wisconsin 89, (at) Stockton Kings 87 Started; 37 minutes, 22 points, 6–13 FG, 2–6 3FG, 6–7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls, 3 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +13
Next game 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cleveland Charge, ESPN+


Photo via @SacramentoKings

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