By R.L. Bynum
Harrison Barnes got off to a sizzling start in his debut with the San Antonia Spurs, but it wasn’t enough to win Wednesday night in Dallas.
Barnes, beginning his 13th NBA season, scored a game-high 12 points and two 3-pointers in the first quarter to give the Spurs the lead. But he cooled off after that, finishing with 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in the Mavericks’ 120–109 victory.
“We have a lot of talent offensively; guys are going to be able to draw to create open shots, things like that,” Barnes said. “I know my job is pretty simple. Just make the right reads and keep the game simple.”
Barnes and point guard Chris Paul are the two big newcomers who join a team led by Victor Wembanyama. The more impressive debut with a new team was from the Mavs’ Clay Thompson, who scored 22 points and a franchise-record six 3-pointers.
“He’s been doing his entire career,” Barnes said. “I thought we could have done a better job of trying to make him work for his baskets. But when you leave a Hall of Famer open for 3s, he’s going to knock them in. He does that at a high clip.”
Rookie Harrison Ingram was one of two Spurs who didn’t get into the game.
The other five former UNC players on NBA rosters opened their seasons on Wednesday, with three scoring in double figures: Utah center Walker Kessler, Brooklyn forward Cameron Johnson and Chicago guard Coby White, the latter two suffering through tough shooting games.
The only Tar Heel to win in his debut — Orlando guard Cole Anthony — had a rough game in the Magic’s 116–97 win at Miami. Anthony went scoreless with five of his five misses from 3-point range, although he had six assists against two turnovers and three rebounds.
Kessler collected 16 points and 14 rebounds for his 28th career double doubles in Utah’s 126–114 loss. He added five blocks, giving him at least five for the 20th time at the start of his third season.
Johnson went 4 of 10 from the floor and 1 of 6 from 3-point range but finished with 14 points, four rebounds, a steal and a block in the Nets’ 120–116 loss at Atlanta.
Day’Ron Sharpe wasn’t active in the game for Brooklyn as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
White was 4 of 13 from the floor and missed all five 3-point attempts for 10 points, but had eight rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block in the Bulls’ 123–111 loss at Atlanta.
All of the players who played Wednesday have games on Friday, featuring Johnson’s Nets visiting Anthony’s Magic at 7 p.m. White’s Bulls at Milwaukee at 8 p.m. and Kessler’s Jazz at home against Golden State.
San Antonio plays Houston on Saturday in its home opener.
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 24 | 6–2, 185 | 5th season | $12.9 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve point guard/shooting guard
Statistics last season — 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 12.7 minutes, 7.0 points, 31.6 FG%, 18.2 3P%, 100 FT%, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, +1.7
116–97 Wednesday win at Miami — Didn’t start; 18 minutes, 0 points, 0–7 FG, 0–5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +8
Next game — 7 p.m. Friday vs. Brooklyn
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 Julian Champaignie
Statistics last season (Kings) — 82 games, 12.2 points, 47.4 FG%, 38.7 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Final preseason statistics — 5 games, 23.5 minutes, 7.6 points, 36.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 90.9 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.2 of a steal, 0.2 of a block, -4
120–109 Thursday loss at Dallas — Started; 29 minutes, 17 points, 7–10 FG, 2–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, -12
Next game — 8:30 Saturday vs. Houston
Harrison Ingram, San Antonio Spurs forward
Age 21 | 6–7, 230 | rookie season | $578,577 salary | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — Competing for reserve minutes at power forward
Statistics last season (UNC) — 37 games, 12.2 points, 43.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 61.2 FT%, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 24 minutes, 4 points, 2–5 FG, 0–3 3FG, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 4 fouls, +7
120–109 Thursday loss at Dallas — Didn’t play (coach’s decision)
Next game — 8:30 Saturday vs. Houston
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 Jalen Wilson
Statistics last season — 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Final preseason statistics — 4 games, 25.6 minutes, 14.8 points, 41.7 FG%, 39.4 3P%, 76 FT%, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 0.3 of a steal, 0.8 of a block, +1.8
120–116 Wednesday loss at Atlanta — Started; 32 minutes, 14 points, 4–10 FG, 1–6 3FG, 5–6 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 3 fouls, -10
Next game — 7 p.m. Friday at Orlando
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 John Collins
Statistics last season — 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
Final preseason statistics — 6 games, 22.3 minutes, 7.0 points, 76. FG%, 33.3 FT%, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 0.3 of a steal, 1.8 blocks, +2.7
126–124 Wednesday loss vs. Memphis — Started; 30 minutes, 16 points, 6–7 FG, 4–5 FT, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 5 blocks, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +4
Next game — 9:30 Friday vs. Golden State
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 — 61 games, 6.8 points, 57.1 FG%, 26.7 3P%, 51.0 FT%, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists
120–116 Wednesday loss at Atlanta — Not active as he recovers from a hamstring injury
Next game — 7 p.m. Friday at Orlando
Coby White, Chicago Bulls guard
Age 24 | 6–5, 195 | 6th season | $12 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting shooting guard
Statistics last season — 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Final preseason statistics — 3 games, 28.9 minutes, 19.3 points, 47.4 FG%, 45.5 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 0.7 of a steal, +4
123–111 Wednesday loss at New Orleans — Started; 35 minutes, 10 points, 4–13 FG, 0–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 4 turnovers, 1 foul, -6
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday at Milwaukee
Photo via @spurs
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