Patty Mills of the Brooklyn Nets. Picture: Michael Hickey Source: Getty Images GIDDEY’S BIG MILESTONE
Australian Josh Giddey reached a significant milestone during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 102-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Giddey was one of the Thunder’s best in a losing cause, finishing with 17 points 13 rebounds and six assists to register his fourth double-double from his past five games.
The 20-year-old also passed 1000 points in the NBA — from just 77 games.
The Cavs, though, were too strong for Giddey’s Thunder on their home floor, with all five starters registering double-figure points.
CURRY, KLAY COMBINE FOR 66 IN WARRIORS WIN
The Golden State Warriors sent a strong signal that they won’t give up their NBA crown without a fight, thumping the Boston Celtics 123-107 in an NBA Finals rematch.
While the Warriors have struggled to build momentum in their title defence this season, the Celtics have streaked to the best record in the league.
But Golden State, with 34 points from Klay Thompson and 32 from Stephen Curry, were more than a match for a Celtics team that came into San Francisco riding a three-game winning streak.
“We just played these guys in the NBA Finals — you want to send a message,” said Golden State forward Draymond Green, who acknowledged the Warriors were also eager to end a two-game slide.
Thompson got going early, scoring 24 points in the first half.
Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry starred for the Golden State Warriors. Picture: Thearon W. Henderson Source: Getty Images Curry, who connected on 12 of 21 shots from the field and had six of the Warriors’ 13 three-pointers, said defence keyed the win.
“From the start we tried to defend without fouling, just make it tough for them,” Curry said.
Jaylen Brown scored 31 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Boston. Jayson Tatum added 18 points and Malcolm Brogdon chipped in 16 off the bench.
“They have so many great guys that can put the ball in the basket,” Curry said. “Tatum and Brown have played amazingly high-level basketball all year.
“You’ve got to live with certain shots they take, but you try to make them work for it all night.
“Offensively we moved the ball, Klay got going early, but our defence connected with our offense, which is great.”
Curry downplayed the idea that the victory carried special significance.
“It got us above .500,” he said of a win that pushed the Warriors’ record to 14-13.
Boston star Tatum also said the early season contest — some six months after the Warriors rallied to win last season’s championship series — carried no special significance.
Derrick White of the Boston Celtics blocks the shot of Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Picture: Thearon W. Henderson Source: Getty Images “It was one game,” Tatum said. “It’s not going to dictate our season. It’s all about how we respond.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the setback could prove beneficial in the long run.
“They tested us,” Mazzulla said. “That’s good for us to go through.”
ELSEWHERE …
Los Angeles Clippers guard John Wall felt the love and, thanks to a strong performance from Paul George and last-minute heroics from Nicolas Batum, got the win in his return to Washington.
George scored 36 points and Batum drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with 23.8 seconds remaining as the Clippers beat the Wizards 114-107.
It was a homecoming for Wall, who went to Washington as the top draft pick in 2010 and played nine seasons with the Wizards.
He received a standing ovation when he was introduced before the game and was honoured with a video tribute during an early time-out.
Zion 360 DUNK leads to SCUFFLE! | 00:53
He’d been back once before while with Houston, but the Covid pandemic meant no fans were at the game.
In Chicago, DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Bulls to a 144-115 rout of the Dallas Mavericks, who were without NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic.
Denver’s NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic had a triple-double of 31 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists in the Nuggets’ 115-110 victory over the Utah Jazz.
San Antonio celebrated the 26th anniversary of Gregg Popovich’s first game as coach of the Spurs with a 115-111 victory over the Heat in Miami.
