As Josh Giddey finished through contact for an and-1 to bring up a season-high 24 points on Monday afternoon, he let out a roar.
It was a fitting end to an emphatic game from the Australian who was at his aggressive best as he helped inspire the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 23-point comeback in a 135-127 double overtime win over the Toronto Raptors.
Giddey had six rebounds, six assists and two blocks along with his season-high haul in points while also finishing with a team-high plus-minus of +17.
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“He played with great intensity tonight, especially on the defensive end of the floor and on the glass,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said post-game.
“I thought he did a great job from a physical standpoint. He had different match-ups and I think he did a great job with that.
“Then offensively I think he played with great decisiveness. His shooting and also his driving and his movement off the ball — I think he had great balance tonight.”
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Speaking in Monday’s post-game press conference, Giddey reflected on what he described as a “different” and at times “tough” season for him and the key word behind it — sacrifice.
“It’s been a different year for me,” Giddey said.
“With guys coming in, sacrifice is needed for a team like this and the success we’ve had requires that. Guys have done a great job of making the right play and we’ve got so much talent on this team it’s not going to be everyone’s night every night. Guys have done a great job being unselfish, making the extra pass and making the extra play and that’s where I think we’ve had success so far.
“I’m just trying to get back to me. I thought tonight was a good step in the right direction in terms of confidence and decision-making.
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“It’s not going to be overnight. It takes time. Progress is never linear… I’m 21 years old, I’m going to go through tough stretches as I’ve been through most of the season but I’m trying to not let it faze me.
“… It is tough at times when you go through these stretches you’re in the middle of and it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But you’ve got to think big picture. Everyone goes through this… I’ve been good having people to lean on. Teammates, coaches, external people that have been awesome in helping me deal with that.”
It was a reminder of what Giddey is capable of as questions continued to be asked of his future fit in the team after struggling in a more off-ball role with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams’ development.
To be clear, those questions are only external at this point with no reporting at this stage suggesting that the Thunder have explored moving Giddey before this year’s trade deadline.
Yahoo Sports Senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer did report last month though that he expected rival teams to make calls to the Thunder regarding Giddey’s potential availability.
And after the opening half it looked like Monday’s game was shaping as yet another reason for Oklahoma City to put serious thought into how Giddey fits in the team’s long-term plans.
After all, the Australian started the second half on the bench with Jaylin Williams given the nod in the starting line-up instead.
It came after the Raptors consistently left Giddey open near the 3-point line to give them a one-man advantage elsewhere, something which the Australian has started to see more often in his third season in the NBA.
Only further incentivising that approach was the fact Giddey struggled to finish close to the rim, leaving the Thunder in a tricky conundrum as they try to work out the best way to get the most of the Australian’s talents off the ball.
There was one play late in the second quarter that spoke to Giddey’s limitations in Oklahoma City’s halfcourt offence as the 20-year-old got the ball in the dunker spot and was unable to finish as three Raptors defenders swarmed, passing out and later being ignored near the 3-point line.
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It was not just Giddey with teammate Lu Dort also left open in a growing trend for the Thunder, with the offensive fit and issue when those two are on the court together.
When Giddey re-entered the game with 8:57 on the clock in the third quarter the Raptors had a 69-51 lead and the Thunder were in desperate need of some spark.
The Australian provided just that but not in the way most people would have expected, recording two quick blocks on a pair of attempted RJ Barrett shots.
Giddey then, shaping to pass to Chet Holmgren who was on the move towards the rim, instead aggressively drove towards the bucket himself before pulling up to shoot and drawing a foul in the process.
That aggressive approach paid dividends soon after as Giddey spun towards the paint and instead kicked it out to a wide-open Aaron Wiggins, who reduced Toronto’s lead to 78-70.
Giddey then made the Raptors pay for double-teaming teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after the Thunder guard passed to the Australian, faking the 3-pointer attempt to physically drive at Thaddeus Young and make the floating jump shot.
Giddey then capped off a dominant third quarter with a 3-pointer, this time faking the pass before launching it from deep, as Oklahoma City went into the fourth only trailing 87-81.
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Giddey started the fourth quarter on the bench but quickly came back in after less than two minutes, finishing off a fast-break opportunity after a Kenrich Williams steal.
That Giddey bucket tied the game at 91-91 before five quick points from Dort saw the Thunder take the lead.
Evidence of just how locked in Giddey was came soon after with five minutes left in regulation as Gilgeous-Alexander made a move towards the rim with defenders crowding him.
Clearly playing some of the most confident basketball of the season, Giddey also cut towards the bucket as a passing option and was in position to bank it home after the Gilgeous-Alexander miss.
It was a case of being in the right place at the right time but Giddey made the effort to get there.
Giddey later made another 3-pointer before flashing the playmaking ability he has never lost despite his struggles elsewhere this season, finding Aaron Wiggins off a sideline out of bounds pass to send the game to overtime.
It would take two overtime periods to separate the teams, with the Thunder finishing on top as Giddey once again drove towards the rim late in the piece for an and-1, letting out a roar as he brought up a season-high 24 points.
Four other Thunder players scored 20 points in the win while MVP candidate Gilgeous-Alexander had 14 assists and only two turnovers despite being constantly tested by the Raptors defence.