Cameron Johnson had one of those nights players dream about in the NBA — he was at the top of his game at both ends of the court. With star teammate Devin Booker struggling with his shot and in late foul trouble, Johnson led Phoenix to a 116–107 home victory Tuesday over Minnesota. The 6–8 Johnson, in his fourth NBA season but first as a starter, also took on the challenge of guarding 7–0 Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns.

Like so many times last season, the Phoenix Suns rolled and Cameron Johnson kept pouring in the 3-pointers. Johnson scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and pulled down seven rebounds, all three season-highs, as the Suns rolled to a 124–109 home victory Sunday night over the Houston Rockets.

There was good and bad for former UNC point guards Coby White and Cole Anthony on Friday, and it was all good for Cameron Johnson. Although his Chicago Bulls (3–3) lost on Friday night, White had his best game of the season. While Cole Anthony didn’t play because of an injury, he had a good day off the court because the Orlando Magic extended his contract through the 2023–24 season. Johnson scored a season-high 16 points as the 4–1 Phoenix Suns rolled to a win.

Harrison Barnes nearly equaled his point total from the first three games with 20 points on Thursday night, the second-best total by a UNC alum this season, to shake out of his early-season offensive struggles. That wasn’t enough, though, to keep Sacramento Kings from falling to 0–4 as the Kings lost at home to the Memphis Grizzlies 125–110.

Several former UNC players have begun the season struggling with their shots, and that continued this week for Cole Anthony, Reggie Bullock and Cameron Johnson, while others simply aren’t getting off many shots. Harrison Barnes gets a chance Thursday to shake off his tough start. Anthony’s poor shooting continued as Orlando fell to an NBA-worst 0–5 with a 99–89 loss at Cleveland. He was 2 of 10 from the floor and 1 of 5 on 3-point attempts, finishing with nine points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Justin Jackson finally made his season debut for the Boston Celtics on Monday night and showed that he’s still got the same sweet shooting stroke. Jackson scored six points in five minutes, making both 3-point attempts as the Celtics moved to 3–1 with a 120–102 road victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Cameron Johnson shook off a right hip contusion to have his best game of the season Sunday night. In 23 minutes, Johnson collected 11 points, three 3-pointers, five rebounds, two assists and a steal as the Phoenix Suns (2–1) easily won on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers 112–95.

Cole Anthony played a good all-around game as Orlando challenged the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics in the Magic’s home opener. However, it came apart in the final minutes as Boston moved to 3–0 and Orlando fell to 0–3 after the Celtics’ 126–120 victory Saturday night.

Cole Anthony missed Orlando’s opener on Wednesday because he felt sick but to say that he was doing fine on Friday night would be an understatement. He matched Atlanta star Trae Young’s scoring output with 25 points in the Magic’s 108–98 Friday road loss to the Hawks, but they had contrasting games. Anthony came off the bench hot with 17 points in 12 first-half minutes while Young went scoreless in the first half.

Season one as an NBA starter began well for Cameron Johnson after missing most of the preseason with a right thumb injury. It was going fine with 15 points and three 3-pointers in the Phoenix Suns’ 107–105 come-from-behind home victory Wednesday over the Dallas Mavericks before he left the game with nearly 10 minutes remaining in the game because of cramping and didn’t return.