‘Don’t do that bulls**t again’: Josh Giddey erupts like we’ve never seen before
If anybody was questioning how Josh Giddey would carry out with all the pieces on the road, the Aussie NBA star has delivered a telling reply.
Giddey equalled his career-high of 31 factors in addition to 9 rebounds and 10 assists because the Oklahoma City Thunder received its play-in event conflict in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118.
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The Thunder will now play the Minnesota Timberwolves for a spot within the playoffs, the place the winner will face Western Conference high seeds the Denver Nuggets.
Giddey, who continues to be solely 20 years outdated, turned the youngest participant in NBA historical past to attain a minimum of 30 factors in a play-in or playoff recreation, beating earlier document holder Derrick Rose, who set the mark in 2009 by 12 days.
As for his whole stat line of 31-9-10, at 20 years and 184 days outdated, he beat LeBron James (21 years and 113 days) and Luka Doncic (21 years and 177 days).
“We did a great job of not getting rattled,” Giddey stated. “Nothing ever phased us. It’s such a young group, but it’s such a composed team and that’s how you have to be down the stretch of tight games like that.
“This is as good as I could have imagined my first postseason game being.”
But whereas Giddey has been setting every kind of data on account of his tender age, he wasn’t about to put down when pressured by his rivals.
With slightly below eight minutes left within the fourth quarter as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was bringing the ball out, Giddey was supporting his teammate and making an attempt to make Richardson’s life tough.
As the pair collided, it appeared Richardson dropped an elbow into Giddey, with lots believing it hit the Aussie within the groin.
It dropped Giddey to the ground however the Aussie got here in sizzling and needed to be held again by his teammates.
After arguing his case with the refs, Giddey then pointed to Richardson, saying: “Don’t do that bulls**t again. Don’t do it again.”
While some argued Giddey was additionally fortunate to not be fouled for the unlawful transferring display screen, Richardson’s was clearly the extra egregious concern at play and he was slammed for the act.
It noticed Richardson known as for a flagrant foul sort one which means Giddey went to the stripe for 2 free throws, in addition to the Thunder getting the ball again.
The Thunder have needed to go the exhausting method in the event that they need to make the playoffs, needing to go from tenth.
Despite having ticked off one win, the Thunder now must play the Timberwolves in Minneapolis, scheduled for 11.30am Saturday AEST.
“It’s going to be a similar environment — hostile, on the road, a do-or-die game,” Giddey stated.
“It’s going to be another test, but as Shai said — we’ve had a lot of close games and none of these moments rattle our guys. We’ll be ready for Minnesota.”
