Josh Giddey has set a brand new excessive for assists on his solution to a seventh NBA triple-double as his Oklahoma Metropolis 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 typically within the second half, ending with 17 factors, 17 assists and 11 rebounds with simply three turnovers on his house courtroom.
Giddey turned 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 not less than 15 assists.
His 17 can also 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 not less than 17 factors and produce 9 assists in every of his final 4 video games.
“I used to be attempting to get guys the ball in spots on the proper time they usually took care of the remainder,” the second-year NBA expertise stated on courtroom after the win.
The Warriors (34-32), sitting fifth within the Western Convention, held the lead seven instances and as late because the third quarter.
However Giddey’s regular hand and 7 OKC gamers hitting double figures – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored with 33 factors – improved the aspect to 31-34.
5 groups share that report in a crowded convention, unfold both aspect 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 is a good feeling; they’ve had our quantity the final two seasons, we have struggled,” Giddey stated.
“It was a matter of who was going to climate the storm the perfect.
“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 5 of six photographs for his 12 factors and added six assists for Milwaukee of their 134-123 win at Orlando.
Joel Embiid had 39 factors in 29 minutes as Philadelphia beat Minnesota 117-94, whereas Patty Mills wasn’t used and Ben Simmons missed his seventh straight recreation with knee and again soreness for Brooklyn, who beat Houston 118-96.
Kyrie Irving hit a clutch three-pointer and scored 17 of his 33 factors within the fourth quarter, whereas Luka Doncic added 29 factors in a 120-116 Dallas win over Utah.
Josh Inexperienced (seven factors, three rebounds, two assists) had a uncommon off night time, capturing simply three-of-10 from the sphere 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.