Cameron Johnson scores 19 points, leads Suns to 18th straight victory

Cameron Johnson got off to a good start in the month of December, scoring a team-high 19 points on Thursday night and leading the Suns to their 18th straight victory.

Cameron Johnson has really been playing well for the Phoenix Suns of late, and he looked good again on Thursday night. In a 114-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons, Johnson posted his second consecutive double-digit scoring game and sixth in his last eight.

He hit 7-of-11 shots for the game and tied fellow Phoenix reserve Cameron Payne with a team-high 19 points, leading the Suns to a franchise-record 18th straight win. Johnson knocked down 4-of-6 shots from beyond the three-point line while adding six rebounds, two assists and one block in a really efficient 27 minutes of play.

Johnson was part of a balanced Suns scoring attack against the fledgling Pistons that saw seven players notch double-figure points. Johnson’s contributions on the offensive end of the court continue to improve as the season goes on, as he’s now up to 9.2 points per game and shooting better than 40 percent from long-range. He’s also right on par with his career averages in rebounds (3.3), and assists (1.2), shooting percentage (42.6) and turnovers (0.6).

Many scoffed at the Suns’ selection of Johnson at pick No. 11 in the 2019 NBA Draft, but he was the perfect addition to a team that is built to compete for a title year in and year out. He gives the Suns much-needed long-distance shooting, great energy off the bench and a tenacious attitude and hunger to succeed. He continues to impress in year three of his professional career, becoming one of the most feared and reliable three-point shooting reserves in the league.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Cameron Johnson and UNC basketball alumni throughout the league.