Australian star Josh Giddey says he lost 10 pounds while he had a non-Covid illness that saw him miss Oklahoma City Thunder’s past two games.
Giddey returned to the floor on Thursday (AEDT) and impressed in the Thunder’s 101-98 win over Portland, finishing with 13 points from six-of-eight from the field, as well as six assists and six rebounds.
Giddey’s ability to find teammates on the floor was on display again, highlighted by a terrific bounce pass to a cutting Luguentz Dort, who nailed the dunk.
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What made the 20-year-old’s performance even more impressive was the fact Giddey lost weight while sick.
Speaking to reporters post-game, Giddey revealed the illness was so serious he lost 10 pounds while sidelined, but added he “felt good” on the floor in his return game.
“I thought I would feel short-winded … But I felt great,” Giddey told reporters.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said post-game he was surprised Giddey not only managed 31 minutes but played at such a high level considering the circumstances.
“He played more than I thought he was going to be able to play just based on his conditioning and based on how he was with the illness,” Daigneault said.
“I was impressed by how he played. I thought he had a good jolt and was able to sustain long minutes.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points for the Thunder, who’ve now won three straight games after a five-match losing streak.
CHAMPS’ NIGHTMARE AS STEPH REALITY SINKS IN
A day after getting smashed by the New York Knicks, the Golden State Warriors on Thursday (all times AEDT) suffered a brutal beating by the Brooklyn Nets 143-113 to continue their horror road trip.
It was a one-sided affair from the opening tip, with the Nets exploding out of the gates with a 46-point first quarter to already open up a 29-point advantage.
The hosts showed no mercy in the second quarter by stacking on another 45 points to put up a wild total of 91 points in the first half alone and lead by 40.
The 91 points marked a franchise record for the Nets, and according to ESPN, the 40-point margin was the largest halftime deficit by a defending champions in NBA history. It was also the third-highest first half point total in league history.
Ouch.
The game was all but over by then, although the Warriors did put up more of a fight in the second half including cutting their deficit to 106-79 late in the third after a Ty Jerome three.
But it’s ultimately the closest Steve Kerr’s side would get until the final buzzer in a major reality check for the undermanned reigning champions that remain without Andrew Wiggins (groin) and Steph Curry (shoulder), while Klay Thompson was managed in this one.
Playing without Kyrie Irving (calf tightness), Brooklyn shot a hyper efficient 64% from the field and 63% from downtown, with Kevin Durant (23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals in 29 minutes) leading nine Nets players in double figure scoring including Ben Simmons (10 points, four rebounds, eight assists in 19 minutes).
Nikola Jokic SHINES against Grizzlies | 00:32
In a silver lining however, James Wiseman racked up a career-high 30 points on 12-of-14 shooting and six rebounds.
With the Knicks losing to Toronto, Brooklyn’s seven-game winning streak is the now the best in the NBA, consolidating the fourth seed in the East.
Golden State meanwhile dropped its fifth game from its last six to finish a nightmare road trip, sliding outside play-in qualification.
ODD LATE LAY-UP MISS AMID SHOCK KNICKS LOSS
The New York Knicks’ eight-game winning streak came to an end in a 113-106 loss to the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden.
Pascal Siakam went off for a career-high 52 points with nine rebounds and seven assists, while Fred VanVleet added 28 points, as the Raptors tasted victory after six straight losses.
“It felt good to win,” said Siakam.
“It didn’t matter if it was on the road or at home we just wanted a win.
“We have been going through a tough time and now the most important thing is to build on it,” he added.
Julius Randle and RJ Barrett paced the Knicks with 30 points each in the loss.
The Knicks were able to hang close, on the strength of their efficient offence that included 52.6 per cent shooting from the field and 19 points from Barrett on seven of 12 shooting. Five missed free throws, four by Randle, did not help their cause.
Randle had a moment to forget late in the game, missing a wide-open lay-up with his side down 102-106 with 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Randle misses late POINT BLANK layup! | 00:27
CELTICS DROP THIRD STRAIGHT
The Boston Celtics woes also continued on Thursday, falling to the Indiana Pacers at home 117-112 as their losing streak hit three games.
The Celtics went down big early including trailing by 30 points at one stage during the first half.
It prompted boos from the always passionate fans at TD Garden as the Celtics faithful let their thoughts be known on the team’s performance.
“First time for (Boston coach) Joe (Mazzulla) to hear this,” Celtics commentator Mike Gorman said of the home fans’ brutal response.
Boston fought its way back into the game in the second half though, erupting for 42 points in the third term to make it a 15-point game at the last change.
And the hosts kept pushing down the stretch, with Malcolm Brogdon’s lay-up followed by Jaylen Brown’s three getting them within five points with 3:06 remaining.
However Indiana responded with a Tyrese Haliburton triple and Myles Turner and-one to re-open a double-figure advantage and put a full stop on the contest.
Haliburton led the way with 33 points and eight assists in the win as the Pacers got back to .500 at 16-16 and climbed back into the eighth seed.
Tatum’s topscored with 41, but the Celtics (22-10), who despite sitting atop the Eastern Conference for most of the season, are not just a half-game ahead of the third-placed Cavaliers.
ELSEWHERE …
The Cleveland Cavaliers made a statement 114-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks behind 36 points from Donovan Mitchell.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was at his brilliant best with 45 points – 16 in the fourth quarter as he tried to will his team back into the hame – 14 boards and two blocks, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
The third-placed Cavs (22-11) are now just one game behind the East leading Bucks (22-9).
Mitchell was 15 of 16 at the free throw line, including nine of nine in the fourth, but was also ably supported by 23 points from Darius Garland and 19 points from Jarrett Allen.
The Cavaliers are 16-2 on home court, the best record in the NBA.
“We needed it,” said Allen. “We lost on their court twice and we needed to show them that we are here to play.”
Those two defeats had seen Cleveland fade in the third quarter and Allen said it was crucial that they stayed on top of their game throughout.
“That gives us a lot of satisfaction, we didn’t let the third quarter stop us, we came out and attacked, defended and did it all,” he said.
In Atlanta, Ayo Dosunmu banked in a put-back jumper on the buzzer as the Bulls took down the Atlanta Hawks 110-108 despite the visitors blowing an 18-point lead.
Joe Ingles returns to NBA action | 00:31
DeMar DeRozan missed from the left but Dosunmu grabbed the rebound and won the second straight game for Chicago.
After a four-game losing streak, Chicago has now tied together two wins to improve to 13-18.
DeMar DeRozan had 28 points for Chicago, while Trae Young topped scoring for Atlanta with 34 points.\DeRozan (28 points), Zach LaVine (22 points) and Nikola Vucevic (20 points) all stood up in a great response to scrutiny against the team and talk of disharmony in the locker room.
Trae Young’s 34 led all scorers in a tough loss for Atlanta with a chance to win its third-straight game.
The Orlando Magic made it seven wins out of eight as they came back from 15 points down in the second half to beat the Rockets 116-110 in Houston.
German Franz Wagner scored 25 points for the Magic with rookie Paolo Banchero putting up 23 points and claiming 13 rebounds
— with AFP and New York Post
ALL SCORES
BUCKS 106 CAVALIERS 114
PISTONS 93 76ERS 113
BULLS 110 HAWKS 108
PACERS 117 CELTICS 112
WARRIORS 113 NETS 143
RAPTORS 113 KNICKS 106
MAGIC 116 ROCKETS 110
MAVERICKS 104 TIMBERWOLVES 99
TRAIL BLAZERS 98 THUNDER 101
LAKERS 120 KINGS 134
HORNETS 105 CLIPPERS 126