Cam Johnson, Nassir Little have big performances on Monday night

Former Tar Heels Cam Johnson and Nassir Little had standout performances in their respective team’s games on Monday night.

Neither Cam Johnson nor Nassir Little began the season as starters at their respective posts, but with performances like they’ve both had of late, they could end the season that way.

Johnson got his first start of the season on Monday night with regular starters Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton in the NBA’s health and safety protocols along with their head coach, Monty Williams. And in a season-high 36 minutes of play, Johnson showed exactly why he should probably be there to begin with.

The former UNC sharpshooter scored 19 points and hit four three-pointers for the Suns in a 114-113 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies that was decided by a last-second game-winning shot by third-year sensation Ja Morant. For Johnson, it was his career-high 13th consecutive game scoring in double-figures, a dozen of which came in the tightly-played fourth quarter.

Johnson scored six consecutive points for the Suns in the game’s waning moments to pull them to within five: a 25-foot three-pointer with 3:04 on the clock and three free throws at the 2:21 mark. But the Grizzlies, and Morant, in particular, were simply too much for the Suns on Monday night. Not only did they spoil Johnson’s 19-point effort, but they also erased an outstanding 30-point performance from Phoenix All-Star Devin Booker.

Johnson has improved his scoring average to 11 points per game to go along with 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He’s shooting nearly 43 percent from three-point range, good for 11th-best in the NBA.

Meanwhile, in Portland last night, Nassir Little got his seventh consecutive start and ninth of the season for the Trailblazers. He’s been really solid during that stretch, averaging 10.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. It was his performance on Monday night, though, that topped them all, as he notched a season-high 20 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s 132-117 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Little hit 7-of-14 shots for the game and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. He added three blocks, two assists and two steals, and didn’t commit a single turnover despite logging 34 minutes on the court.

Little, who was praised by teammate and All-NBA guard Damian Lillard following the game, threw down a first half dunk that tied the game at 41 points apiece. After that, it was all Mavericks, as Kristaps Porzingis and company took a commanding 72-53 lead into halftime.

Portland currently has seven players and head coach Chauncey Billups in the league’s health and safety protocols, but with performances like he’s had of late, Little may very well remain in the starting five for the foreseeable future despite who returns to the rotation.

Following his sensational performance against the Mavs, Little is averaging 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 48 percent from the floor.