Josh Giddey has set a brand new excessive for assists on his option to a seventh NBA triple-double as his Oklahoma City beat defending champions Golden State 137-128 to agency for a finals play-in spot.
Giddey tormented Stephen Curry and the Warriors’ defence with a elegant show of play-making, registering 10 assists and taking solely three photographs by halftime.
The Australian 20-year-old took the ball to the ring extra usually within the second half, ending with 17 factors, 17 assists and 11 rebounds with simply three turnovers on his residence court docket.
Giddey grew to become the youngest individual to notch an NBA triple-double final 12 months and is now additionally the youngest in NBA historical past to personal one with no less than 15 assists.
His 17 can be the equal-most assists by an Australian within the NBA, after Ben Simmons managed the feat 4 years in the past.
It was a third-straight win for the Thunder and continued a Giddey scorching streak that is seen him rating no less than 17 factors and produce 9 assists in every of his final 4 video games.
“I was trying to get guys the ball in spots at the right time and they took care of the rest,” the second-year NBA expertise mentioned on court docket after the win.
The Warriors (34-32), sitting fifth within the Western Conference, held the lead seven occasions and as late because the third quarter.
But Giddey’s regular hand and 7 OKC gamers hitting double figures – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored with 33 factors – improved the facet to 31-34.
Five groups share that document in a crowded convention, unfold both facet of the cut-off for the NBA’s play-in bracket that may compete at season’s finish for the ultimate post-season spots.
“It’s a good feeling; they’ve had our number the last two seasons, we’ve struggled,” Giddey mentioned.
“It was a matter of who was going to weather the storm the best.
“Three in a row, on this a part of the 12 months, in how tight the West (convention) is, is essential.”
Elsewhere, Boomers star Joe Ingles made five of six shots for his 12 points and added six assists for Milwaukee in their 134-123 win at Orlando.
Joel Embiid had 39 points in 29 minutes as Philadelphia beat Minnesota 117-94, while Patty Mills wasn’t used and Ben Simmons missed his seventh straight game with knee and back soreness for Brooklyn, who beat Houston 118-96.
Kyrie Irving hit a clutch three-pointer and scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, while Luka Doncic added 29 points in a 120-116 Dallas win over Utah.
Josh Green (seven points, three rebounds, two assists) had a rare off night, shooting just three-of-10 from the field for the Mavericks.
And in Los Angeles, LeBron James was absent however watched Anthony Davis register 30 factors and 22 rebounds within the Lakers’ 112-103 victory over Memphis, who had been lacking their very own All-Star Ja Morant.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
