Josh Giddey has flashed all of Oklahoma City’s “swagger” in his first NBA post-season motion, equalling his career-high with 31 factors in a rousing defeat of New Orleans.
The 20-year-old Australian added 10 assists and 9 rebounds in an announcement efficiency for the Thunder of their 123-118 play-in win.
He dedicated simply two turnovers in 42 minutes of court docket time and paired 30 factors and 10 assists for the primary time.
It equalled compatriot Ben Simmons’ 31-point effort for Philadelphia towards Brooklyn within the 2019 play-offs to comfortably rank among the many greatest post-season NBA efforts by an Australian.
“They’re the type of games, when you grow up, you want to be involved in,” the Victorian product and former Adelaide 36ers NBL star stated.
“And that’s as good as I can imagine my first play-off experience being.”
The NBA’s second-youngest group had been anticipated to endure one other rebuilding season.
But after ending tenth with 16 extra victories than within the final marketing campaign, they’re now only one victory away from securing the Western Conference’s eighth seed and a first-round date with No.1 Denver.
That goes on the road towards Minnesota on Saturday (AEST), after the Timberwolves ended the Lakers’ season.
Second-year expertise Giddey was on the coronary heart of the motion within the do-or-die sport, powering the scoring early earlier than star back-court accomplice Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 factors) exploded within the third quarter.
That gave the guests a 10-point lead however they trailed early within the fourth, ignoring their inexperience to beat the ninth-seeded Pelicans powered by famous person Brandon Ingram’s 30 factors, six rebounds and 7 assists.
Giddey shot at 50 per cent from the sphere and made each of his free throws within the remaining seconds because the Thunder clung on.
The guard received beneath the Pelicans’ pores and skin, with Josh Richardson copping a flagrant foul after connecting with an elbow beneath the belt of the Australian off the ball.
“Even coming into the season, before we’d played a game, there was a swagger in this group,” coach Mark Daigneault stated.
“It’s a collective swagger; they feed off each other, encourage each other, there’s no judgement.
“So they will exit in an surroundings like this and everyone can stick your chest out – that was clearly on show tonight.”
Earlier, Zach LaVine scored 39 points, DeMar DeRozan had 23 against his former team and the Chicago Bulls overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-105.
Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, who trailed 66-47 in the third quarter before LaVine carried them back.
The Bulls will visit the Miami Heat – who they are 3-0 against this season – for the chance to earn a first-round play-off matchup with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
AUSTRALIAN NBA STARS’ BEST POST-SEASON STAT LINES
* Josh Giddey (Thunder) – 31 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds (2023 v Pelicans)
* Ben Simmons (76ers) – 31 points, nine assists, four rebounds (2019 v Nets)
* Joe Ingles (Jazz) – 27 points, three rebounds, two assists (2018 v Rockets)
* Patty Mills (Spurs) – 21 points, three rebounds, three assists (2018 v Warriors)
* Matthew Dellavedova – 20 points, five rebounds, four assists (2015 v Warriors)
* Luc Longley (Bulls) – 19 points, three rebounds, two assists (1996 v Seattle)
* Andrew Bogut (Warriors) – 15 factors, 14 rebounds, two assists (2016 v Thunder)
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
