The Sacramento Kings power forward Harrison Barnes ended his 2023-2024 NBA regular season campaign on a high note, putting up 17 points during the Kings’ 121-82 blowout victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. In this article we talk about Harrison Barnes in Form-17 Points to Cap Off His Latest Basketball Feat.
The 31-year-old Barnes shot efficiently from the field, going 5-of-8 overall and 2-of-4 from the three-point line. He supplemented his scoring totals with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals over his 31 minutes of play.
Barnes’ strong finale caps off what has been one of his most consistent and durable seasons since joining the Kings in 2019. He appeared in 76 games this season, his highest total since the 2018-2019 campaign.
Staying Healthy Has Been Key
A key factor behind Barnes’ successful 2023-2024 season has been his ability to stay healthy and avoid any major injuries. He only missed 6 total games, a stark contrast from past years where injuries caused him to miss significant time.
Barnes’ good health has allowed him to regain the scoring touch that he displayed during his best seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 14.7 points per game this season, his highest mark since the 2017-2018 season.
Stepping Up in Key Moments
While Barnes may not be the primary scoring option on a team featuring stars like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, he has embraced his role as a veteran locker room leader that the young Kings rely on.
With other key scorers like Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk missing time late in the year, Barnes stepped up when the Kings needed offense the most. He increased his scoring average to 16.5 points per game over the last 10 contests of the regular season.
Barnes also knocked down clutch shots to seal close wins against the Grizzlies and Lakers during that stretch run, highlighting his value as a versatile secondary scorer.
Playoff Experience Should Help Young Kings
The Kings will now prepare for a Play-In Tournament game against Barnes’ former team, the Golden State Warriors. It will be Sacramento’s first playoff appearance since 2006.
Barnes’ wealth of experience playing deep into the postseason with the Warriors should prove invaluable to this young, inexperienced Kings group. He averaged nearly 11 points per game over 71 career playoff appearances with Golden State.
If the Kings can get by the Warriors in the Play-In game, they could match up with the Phoenix Suns, a team Barnes knocked off in the 2010 Western Conference Finals while with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Barnes should continue providing steady scoring contributions, clutch shooting and wise veteran leadership as this hungry Kings squad attempts to pull off an upset and make the 2023 NBA Playoffs. His strong regular season finale showed he is playing his best basketball at just the right time. I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this “Harrison Barnes in Form-17 Points to Cap Off His Latest Basketball Feat” article.
