Tar Heels in NBA: Barnes scores 22, four 3s in Kings win; Black has career-best game for Hornets; Jackson puts up double-double

By R.L. Bynum

Harrison Barnes continued to heat up on Sacramento’s long road trip, and Leaky Black produced the best game of his rookie season on Friday night.

Barnes poured in 22 points and four 3-pointers in the Kings’ 133–122 win at Indiana to move to 4–1 on a road trip that finishes with games Saturday in Chicago against Coby White and the Bulls and Monday night in Cleveland.

It was the fourth game of at least 20 points in the last six for Barnes, who pulled down four rebounds and got three steals. Barnes only has six such games all season. He’s scored at least four 3-pointers in four of his last six games, and his 16.5 game score was his fourth in the previous six of at least 16.


In a season-high of nearly 18 minutes, Leaky Black put up season-highs of 11 points, four field goals and three 3-pointers in Charlotte’s 126–106 loss at Oklahoma City. Black was 4 of 7 from the floor and made all three 3-point attempts while tying his season high with two assists and putting up a season-high 9.4 game score.

Unfortunately for the Hornets (10–37), it was their sixth consecutive loss. Of the 18 NBA games that Black has played this season, Charlotte’s only win was the 128–125 Jan. 22 win at Minnesota, when Black had a big block and made a pair of clutch free throws at the end.


Cole Anthony had four points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in Orlando’s 108–106 Friday win over Minnesota.


Reggie Bullock had three points, one rebound and one assist in 10 minutes of Houston’s 135–106 Friday home win over Toronto in only his second action in the Rockets’ last 10 games and first since Jan. 26.



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Walker Kessler collected eight points, seven rebounds and four blocks Thursday in Utah’s 127–124 home loss to Philadelphia.


For the third time in five Phoenix games, Nassir Little didn’t play (coach’s decision) in the Suns’ 129–121 Friday loss at Atlanta.


In the G League Friday, Justin Jackson had a double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the Texas Legends’ 122–119 loss at Santa Cruz. Theo Pinson collected 12 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Tony Bradley pitched in eight points and four rebounds.


Pete Nance had 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists in the Cleveland Charge’s 101–94 home win Friday over Delaware.

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

Roster situation — Uncertain
Season statistics 35 games, 6.7 points, 42.4 FG%, 30.6 3P%, 61.5 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Team record: 32–23, 7th in Western Conference
Tuesday: 131–115 win with Milwaukee vs. Chicago 12:14, 4 points, 2–4 FG, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, +12
Hasn’t reported to Phoenix since getting traded.
Next game 8:30 Thursday, Feb.19, vs. San Antonio in Austin, Texas


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 54 games, 10.6 points, 44.4 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 84.2 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Team record: 33–16, 2nd in Western Conference
Tuesday: 136–108 win at Los Angeles Lakers — Didn’t start; 20:38, 11 points, 4–6 FG, 3–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, +20
Wednesday: 126–113 win at Golden State — Didn’t start; 21:45, 10 points, 4–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 foul, +29
Next game 8:30 Thursday, Feb. 19, vs. Phoenix in Austin, Texas


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: 15–40, 15th in Eastern Conference
Last 10-day contract expired; could return to Pacers later


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 31 games, 11.5 points, 47.05 FG%, 43.7 3P%, 81.0 FT%, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Team record: 35–20, 3rd in Western Conference
Wednesday: 122–116 win vs. Memphis Started; 28:48, 5 points, 2–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 fouls, -6
Next game 10:30 Thursday, Feb. 19, at Los Angeles Clippers


Roster situation Backup point guard behind Deni Avdija/fourth-string 2 guard
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
Team record: 27–29, 9th in Western Conference
Wednesday: 133–109 loss at Minnesota Didn’t play, which pushed his two-way eligibility deadline to Feb. 26
Thursday: 135–119 win at Utah Didn’t start; 14:41, 11 points, 4–12 FG, 3–8 3FG, 2 assists, -14
Next game 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, vs. Denver


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 — 23 games, 5.0 points, 61.3 FG%, 53.5 3P%, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 of an assist
Team record: 23–30, 12th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 116–108 win at Orlando 4:19, 1 turnover, -3
Thursday: 110–93 win at Oklahoma City 23:58, 11 points, 4–6 FG, 3–5 3FG, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, +4
Next game 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at New Orleans


Roster situation Starting shooting guard
Season statistics 42 games, 6.2 points, 43.1 FG%, 29.9 3FG%, 89.1 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Team record: 15–38, 13th in Eastern Conference
Wednesday: 115–110 loss vs. Indiana Didn’t start; 19:36, 6 points, 1–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 3–4 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, -18
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Cleveland


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 51 games, 8.5 points, 61.1 FG%, 21.9 3P%, 67.9 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Wednesday: 115–110 loss vs. Indiana Started; 30:47, 19 points, 8–11 FG, 3–4 FG, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 1 foul, +12
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Cleveland


Coby White, Charlotte Hornets 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 — 29 games, 18.6 points, 43.8 FG%, 34.6 3PFG, 80.5 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Team record: 25–29, 10th in Eastern Conference
Hasn’t played yet in Charlotte because of a left calf strain
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 vs. Houston


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 — 34 games, 10.5 points, 45.7 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 64.5 FT%, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.9 steals
Wednesday: 136–119 loss at Greensboro Swarm Started; 43 minutes, 7 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 fouls, 2 steals, -8
Thursday: 119–107 loss at Greensboro Swarm Started; 38 minutes, 6 points, 2–9 FG, 0–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 block, -16
Next game 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, vs. Osceola Magic, ESPN+


Season statistics — 32 games, 19.5 points, 45.2 FG%, 41.2 3P%, 87.6 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.8 of a steal
Wednesday: 128–116 win vs. San Diego Clippers Started; 22 minutes, 18 points, 4–5 FG, 3–4 3FG, 4–4 FG, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 foul, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, -13
Next game 8:30 Friday, Feb. 20, at Texas Legends


Season NBA statistics — 3 games, 11 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–1 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, +13
Season G League statistics — 25 games, 15.7 points, 49.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 61.2 FT%, 11.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steal
Tuesday: 130–124 win at Iowa Wolves Started; 36 minutes, 30 points, 13–21 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 fouls, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, +3
Wednesday: 135–120 win at Iowa Wolves Started; 32 minutes, 25 points, 10–14 FG, 3–4 3FG, 1–1 FT, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 fouls, 3 steals, 1 block, +32
Next game 10:30 Thursday, Feb. 19, at San Diego Clippers


Season statistics — 26 games, 19.8 points, 47.7 FG%, 41.0 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals
Tuesday: 124–110 loss vs. Birmingham Squadron 31 minutes, 20 points, 7–20 FG, 6–14 3FG, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 fouls, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -17
Next game 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, vs. Greensboro Swarm


Photo via @SacramentoKings

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