By R.L. Bynum
RJ Davis continued his outstanding season in the G League with an appearance Sunday in the league’s Up Next event in Los Angeles as part of NBA All-Star Weekend, leading his team to the championship of the four-team tournament.
Davis entered the event riding major momentum, including a triple-double, a career-high 45-point performance, and a recent G League Player of the Week honor while playing for the South Bay Lakers.
In a mini-game format, Davis started both of his team’s games. He was a team-high +19 in leading his Team White to a 37–25 first-round victory over Team Blue, scoring five points, one 3-pointer with two assists and a steal in five minutes.
That advanced his team to the championship, where it lost 31–29 to Team Black. Davis again scored five points and a 3-pointer, tallying a rebound, an assist and a block in six minutes.
Among Davis’ teammates were former Kansas center Hunter Dickinson and former Creighton guard Trey Alexander.
In Davis’ final game of the season’s first half for South Bay, he scored 18 points and three 3-pointers with five rebounds and five assists in a 128–116 home win on Wednesday over the San Diego Clippers. He’s averaging 19.5 points per game while making 41.2% of his 3-point attempts and 87.6% of his free-throw attempts.
Harrison Ingram had two more monster double-double games in the G League last week in two Austin Spurs road wins over the Iowa Wolves, 130–124 on Tuesday and 135–120 on Wednesday.
He had 30 points, 14 rebounds and five assists on Tuesday and 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals on Wednesday. Ingram, who has only played three early-season games in the NBA, is averaging a double-double with 15.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.
In Cormac Ryan’s only game last week, he had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in his Wisconsin Herd’s 124–110 Tuesday loss to the Birmingham Squadron.
Day’ Ron Sharpe produced his fourth double-double of the season Wednesday in Brooklyn’s 115–110 home loss to Indiana. Sharpe, in his fourth start of the season, collected 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.
Drake Powell, who had his number retired Thursday by Pittsboro’s Northwood High School, had six points in 19½ minutes off the bench in that Nets loss.
Portland must make a decision by the end of the month on Caleb Love because he’s on a two-way contract that limits him to 50 NBA games. With 45 games played, the Blazers soon will have to send him to the G League or convert his contract to a full NBA contract.
After not playing in Wednesday’s 133–109 loss at Minnesota, delaying the decision until at least Feb. 26, he had 11 points on 4 of 12 shooting in Thursday’s 135–119 victory at Utah.
Coby White, nursing a left calf strain, still hasn’t made his Charlotte Hornets debut. He last played on Feb. 3, scoring 21 points for the Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee.
Elsewhere in pro basketball:
— Cole Anthony and Tony Bradley remain in limbo. Milwaukee traded Anthony to Phoenix at the trade deadline, with the Suns reportedly expected to waive him. Indiana didn’t renew Bradley’s 10-day contract, but it remains possible that the Pacers re-sign him.
— Harrison Barnes came off the bench in two San Antonio wins, both on the road, scoring 11 points and three 3-pointers in the Spurs’ 136–108 win Tuesday over the Los Angeles Lakers and 10 points with five rebounds in Wednesday’s 126–113 victory over Golden State.
— Pete Nance had 11 points, three 3-pointers, seven rebounds, and two assists in nearly 24 minutes of Milwaukee’s 110–93 Thursday win at Oklahoma City after playing less than five scoreless minutes in the Bucks’ 116–108 Wednesday win at Orlando.
— Cameron Johnson contributed five points and four rebounds on 2 of 7 shooting in Denver’s only game last week, a 122–116 home win over Memphis.
— Leaky Black combined for 13 points and 11 rebounds in two Capital City Go-Go losses.
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 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 vs. Phoenix in Austin, Texas
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, 47.0 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 at Los Angeles Clippers
Caleb Love, Portland Trail Blazers guard
Age 24 | 6–3, 212 | Rookie season | Two-way contract | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
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 vs. Denver
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 — 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 at New Orleans
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 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 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 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: 26–29, 9th in Eastern Conference
Hasn’t played yet in Charlotte because of a left calf strain
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday 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
Leaky Black, Capital City Go-Go (Wizards) guard
Age 26 | 6–6, 209 | 3rd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2018–23 (5 seasons)
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 vs. Osceola Magic, ESPN+
RJ Davis, South Bay Lakers guard
Age 23 | 6–0, 180 | rookie season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2020–25 (5 seasons)
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
Sunday at G League Up Next All-Star event tournament mini-games in Los Angeles with Team White:
First round: Team White 37, Team Blue 25 — Started; 5 minutes, 5 points, 2–3 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2 assists, 1 steal, team-high +19
Championship: Team Black 31, Team White 29 — Started; 6 minutes, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 block, -2
Next game — 8:30 Friday at Texas Legends
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 — 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 at San Diego Clippers
Cormac Ryan, Wisconsin Herd (Bucks) guard
Age 26 | 6–5, 195 | 2nd season | Exhibit 10 contract | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
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 vs. Greensboro Swarm
Photo via @SouthBayLakers
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