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.
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 — 66 games, 10.2 points, 44.9 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 84.4 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 54–18, 2nd in Western Conference
Thursday: 101–100 win vs. Phoenix — Started; 23:05, 6 points, 3–6 FG, 0–2 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, -4
Saturday: 134–119 win vs. Indiana — Started; 22:34, 12 points, 4–8 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, +21 (tied for team-high)
Monday: 136–111 win at Miami — Didn’t start; 13 points, 4–8 FG, 4–7 3FG, 1–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, +12
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Memphis
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 — 6 games, 8.8 points, 46.3 FG%, 42.9 3FG%, 4–4 FT, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 16–55, 14th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 117–95 loss vs. Detroit and Saturday: 132–111 loss vs. Oklahoma City — Didn’t play
Sunday: 145–113 loss at New York — 16:43, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, -1
Next game — 9 p.m. Wednesday at Utah
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 — 47 games, 11.9 points, 46.8 FG%, 42.8 3P%, 83.7 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Team record: 45–28, 4th in Western Conference
Wednesday: 125–118 loss at Memphis — Started; 33:29, 20 points, 7–13 FG, 5–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, -6
Friday: 121–115 win vs. Toronto — Started; 30:55, 6 points, 2–7 FT, 0–4 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +7
Sunday: 128–112 win vs. Portland — Started; 27:42, 19 points, 7–10 FG, 5–7 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, +19
Tuesday: 125–123 win at Phoenix — Started; 32:41, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 2–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 5 fouls, team-low -12
Next game — 10 p.m. Wednesday vs. Dallas
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 — 37 games, 4.5 points, 56.4 FG%, 47.9 3P%, 2.2 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist
Team record: 29–42, 11th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 128–96 loss at Utah — 13:02, 0–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, -14
Saturday: 108–105 win at Phoenix — 27:01, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 fouls, +1
Monday: 129–96 loss at Los Angeles Clippers — 31:25, 11 points, 5–12 FG, 1–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 fouls, -14
Next game — 10 p.m. Wednesday at Portland
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 — 54 games, 6.0 points, 41.3 FG%, 28.4 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: 17–55, 13th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 121–92 loss vs. Oklahoma City — Started; 16:22, 3 points, 1–2 FG, 1–1 3FG, 1 turnover, -13
Friday: 93–92 loss vs. New York — Started; 24:36, 2 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 foul, -12
Sunday: 126–122 loss at Sacramento — Started; 27:42, 8 points, 4–9 FG, 0–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 fouls, -3
Monday: 134–99 loss at Portland — Didn’t play (left knee injury management)
Next game — 10 p.m. Wednesday at Golden State
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 — 41 games, 17.8 points, 44.3 FG%, 36.0 3PFG, 81.6 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Team record: 37–34, 9th in Eastern Conference
Thursday: 130–111 win vs. Orlando — Didn’t start; 22:50, 27 points, 7–13 FG, 5–8 3FG, 8–8 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 turnovers, 2 fouls, -2
Saturday: 124–101 win vs. Memphis — Didn’t start; 19:12, 12 points, 4–11 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3–4 FT, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 fouls, +13
Tuesday: 134–90 win vs. Sacramento — Didn’t start; 18:25, 27 points, 9–12 FG, 6–8 3FG, 3–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, +26
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. New York, NBATV
Out for season
— Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe (UCL tear in left thumb); season statistics: 62 games, 8.7 points, 60.1 FG%, 23.1 3P%, 67.8 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
— 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 — 46 games, 18.6 points, 46.3 FG%, 41.8 3P%, 86.9 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Friday: 111–98 win vs. Grand Rapids Gold — Started; 33 minutes, 25 points, 8–16 FG, 3–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, +13
Saturday: 119–111 win vs. Grand Rapids Gold — Started; 29 minutes, 22 points, 8–10 FG, 1–2 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, -8
Tuesday: 115–114 loss vs. Stockton Kings — Started; 34 minutes, 16 points, 6–16 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 fouls, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 block, +1
Next game — 10 p.m. Thursday vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce
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 — 33 games, 16.1 points, 49.1 FG%, 34.2 3P%, 61.1 FT%, 12.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals
Friday: 121–107 win at Noblesville Boom — Started, 34 minutes, 26 points, 11–16 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1–1 FT, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 fouls, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +11
Sunday: 117–97 win at Noblesville Boom — Started, 34 minutes, 15 points, 6–14 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2FT, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 fouls, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +18
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday vs. Rip City Remix
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 — 10 games, 24.7 points, 43.3 FG%, 23.5 3P%, 75.8 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.6 turnovers
Friday: 126–117 loss vs. Raptors 905 — Started; 37 minutes, 33 points, 9–21 FG, 4–12 3FG, 7–9 FT, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 foul, 2 turnovers, +3
Saturday: 115–107 win vs. Raptors 905 — Started; 30 minutes, 20 points, 7–22 FG, 1–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers, -14
Next game — 8 p.m. Wednesday at Austin Spurs, ESPN+
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
Friday: 123–105 loss vs. Motor City Cruise, Saturday: 113–108 loss vs. Motor City Cruise and Monday: 113–108 loss vs. Motor City Cruise— Didn’t play
Next game — 11 a.m. Thursday at Raptors 905
Photo via @SacramentoKings
Lowry would be a good pickup to boost the bench. Can still shoot and run an offense even though he’s physically wearing down.