Barnes gets off to a hot start, scoring 17 goals on Spurs debut; Shootings for Anthony, Johnson, White

By RL Bynum

Harrison Barnes got off to a blistering start in his debut with the San Antonia Spurs, but it wasn't enough for a win on Wednesday night in Dallas.

Barnes, entering 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 and finished with 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in the Mavericks' 120-109 win.

“We have a lot of talent offensively; Guys will be able to draw, create open shots, things like that,” Barnes said. “I know my job is pretty easy. Just make the right reads and keep the game simple.”

Barnes and point guard Chris Paul are the two big freshmen joining a team led by Victor Wembanyama. The more impressive debut with a new team came from the Mavs' Clay Thompson, who scored 22 points and a franchise-record six 3-pointers.

“He’s done his entire career,” Barnes said. “I thought we could have done a better job of making him work for his baskets. But if you leave a Hall of Famer open for 3 seconds, he'll throw it in. He does it at top speed.”

Rookie Harrison Ingram was one of two Spurs who did not play.

The other five former UNC players on the NBA roster opened their season Wednesday with three double-digit goals: Utah center Walker Kessler, Brooklyn forward Cameron Johnson and Chicago guard Coby White, with the latter two suffering from tough shooting games .

The only Tar Heel to win in his debut – Orlando guard Cole Anthony – had a tough game in the Magic's 116-97 win at Miami. Anthony went scoreless on five of his five missed shots 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-double in Utah's 126-114 loss. He added five blocks, marking the 20th time he had at least five at the start of his third season.

Johnson made 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 in Atlanta.

Day'Ron Sharpe was inactive for Brooklyn in the game 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 in Atlanta.

All players who played on Wednesday have games on Friday, including Johnson's Nets at 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 at home on Saturday.

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Age 24 | 6–2, 185 | 5th season | $12.9 million salary | UNC 2019–20 (1 season)

Squad situation – Reserve point guard/shooting guard
Last season stats – 81 games, 11.6 points, 43.5 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Final preseason stats — 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 — Not started; 18 minutes, 0 points, 0-7 FG, 0-5 3FG, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, +8
Next game — Friday, 7 p.m. against Brooklyn

San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes
Age 32 | 6–8, 225 | 13th season | $19 million salary | UNC 2010–12 (2 seasons)

Squad situation — Small striker in front 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 stats — 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 steals, 0.2 blocks , -4
120-109 loss on Thursday in 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 against Houston

Harrison IngramSan Antonio Spurs forward
Age 21 | 6–7, 230 | rookie season | $578,577 Salary | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)

Squad situation — Competes for reserve minutes at power forward
Last Season Stats (UNC) – 37 games, 12.2 points, 43.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 61.2 FT%, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Final preseason stats — 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 loss on Thursday in Dallas — Didn't play (coach's decision)
Next game — 8:30 Saturday against Houston

Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson
Age 28 | 6–8, 210 | 6th season | $22.5 million salary | UNC 2017–19 (2 seasons)

Squad situation — Small forward in front of Jalen Wilson
Last season stats – 58 games, 13.4 points, 44.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%, 78.9 FT%, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Final preseason stats — 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 steals, 0 .8 blocks, +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 — Friday, 7 p.m. in Orlando

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz Center
Age 23 | 7–0, 245 | 3rd season | $2.97 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Squad situation — Starting center in front of John Collins
Last season stats – 64 games, 8.1 points, 65.5 FG%, 21.1 3P%, 60.2 FT%, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 2.4 blocks
Final preseason stats — 6 games, 22.3 minutes, 7.0 points, 76. FG%, 33.3 FT%, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 0.3 steals, 1.8 blocks, + 2.7
126-124 loss to Memphis on Wednesday — 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 against Golden State

Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe
Age 22 | 6–9, 265 | 4th season | $3.8 million salary | UNC 2020–21 (1 season)

Squad situation — Backup center behind Nic Claxton
Last season stats – 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 — Friday, 7 p.m. in Orlando

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White
Age 24 | 6–5, 195 | 6th season | $12 million salary | UNC 2018–19 (1 season)

Squad situation — Starting shooter
Last season stats – 79 games, 19.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 83.8 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Final preseason stats — 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 steals , +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 — Friday, 8 p.m. in Milwaukee

Photo via @spurs