Boom time: Giddey heights, Daniels delights
Murray Wenzel |
Josh Giddey has taken his outstanding form to new heights while Dyson Daniels rediscovered his range as the Boomers teammates helped Chicago and Atlanta to stirring NBA Cup wins.
Daniels lifted in the absence of star Hawks backcourt partner Trae Young to keep Indiana winless while Giddey had a career-high 32 points and hit four triples as the Bulls improved to 5-0 for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Under pressure following a string of low-scoring games and some head-scratching misses close to the rim, Daniels roared back to offensive life with 18 points, nine rebounds, six steals and three assists in Saturday’s (AEST) 128-108 win over the Pacers.
With Young nursing a knee injury, Daniels took on more of the load, running plays with confidence and attacking the rim or dishing for teammates to unpick last season’s runners-up.
He was eight-of-13 from the field as the Hawks improved to 3-3.
Jalen Johnson scored 22 points and had 13 rebounds and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points in the NBA Cup win.
Pascal Siakam finished with 18 points and five assists while Jarace Walker added 17 points for the 0-5 Pacers, who are dealing with a rash of injuries.
Giddey hit four-of-eight triples and added 10 rebounds and nine assists without committing a turnover to lead Chicago’s 135-125 defeat of New York.
The last time the Bulls won their first five games of the season was to begin their Michael Jordan-charged title defence in 1996-97.
Giddey’s three-point percentage – previously a source of interest for his critics – is now 45.5 this season.
In his last 20 NBA games, Giddey has averaged 21.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists, his form validating the decision to leave the high-flying Oklahoma City and even commanding some early All-Star claims.
Ayo Dosunmu (22 points, nine assists) and the rejuvenated Nikola Vucevic (26 points, seven rebounds) backed up Giddey.
Jalen Brunson had 29 points and seven assists while Karl-Anthony Towns (22 points, 10 rebounds, four assists) and OG Anunoby (26 points) had the Knicks up by nine points in the first quarter before the Bulls’ charge.
In Cleveland, Australian pair Luke Travers (two points, five rebounds, two assists) and Tyrese Proctor (four points, two assists) both saw 14 minutes of court time in the Cavaliers’ 112-101 loss to Toronto.
And luckless Australian Matisse Thybulle has undergone thumb surgery and will miss at least a month of the NBA season with Portland.
AAP
