Tar Heels in NBA: Harrison Barnes’ 24 points help Kings top Pelicans

Harrison Barnes is one of the hottest-shooting Tar Heels in NBA action over the past two weeks, and his latest performance helped fuel the Kings to victory over the Pelicans on Monday night.

Sacramento Kings small forward Harrison Barnes had another solid performance on Monday night, and it helped fuel his team to a 118-109 victory over the upstart New Orleans Pelicans.

His 24 points came on an efficient 8-for-14 shooting performance that included 5-of-7 from three-point range and 3-of-3 at the free throw line. He pulled down eight rebounds and dished out four assists in a game-high 40 minutes of play.

It was Barnes’ 14th game this season with at least six rebounds, and the 10th time that he’s recorded at least four assists. He’s averaging career-highs in both this season — 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists — and has the best assist-to-turnover ratio of his nine-year NBA career. Barnes’ 16.9 point-per-game average is his best since the 2018-19 season when he was in the final year of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Kings are far from perfect, but Barnes’ good season combined with the continued progression of fourth-year point guard De’Aaron Fox, as well as solid contributions from veteran wing Buddy Hield and reserve rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton, has them in position to at least compete in an extremely deep and difficult Pacific Division.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Harrison Barnes and other former Tar Heels in NBA play.