Josh Giddey roars to life in epic comeback as Aussie reflects on key word behind ‘tough’ season

As Josh Giddey completed via contact for an and-1 to deliver up a season-high 24 factors on Monday afternoon, he let loose a roar.

It was a becoming finish to an emphatic recreation from the Australian who was at his aggressive greatest as he helped encourage the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 23-point comeback in a 135-127 double additional time win over the Toronto Raptors.

Giddey had six rebounds, six assists and two blocks alongside together with his season-high haul in factors whereas additionally ending 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 mentioned 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.”

Speaking in Monday’s post-game press convention, Giddey mirrored on what he described as a “different” and at occasions “tough” season for him and the important thing phrase behind it — sacrifice.

“It’s been a different year for me,” Giddey mentioned.

“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.

“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 able to as questions continued to be requested of his future match within the group after struggling in a extra off-ball function with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams’ improvement.

To be clear, these questions are solely exterior at this level with no reporting at this stage suggesting that the Thunder have explored transferring Giddey earlier than this 12 months’s commerce deadline.

Yahoo Sports Senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer did report final month although that he anticipated rival groups to make calls to the Thunder concerning Giddey’s potential availability.

And after the opening half it seemed like Monday’s recreation was shaping as but one more reason for Oklahoma City to place critical thought into how Giddey suits within the group’s long-term plans.

After all, the Australian began the second half on the bench with Jaylin Williams given the nod within the beginning line-up as a substitute.

It got here after the Raptors persistently left Giddey open close to the 3-point line to provide them a one-man benefit elsewhere, one thing which the Australian has began to see extra usually in his third season within the NBA.

Only additional incentivising that method was the very fact Giddey struggled to complete near the rim, leaving the Thunder in a tough conundrum as they attempt to work out one of the best ways to get the a lot of the Australian’s skills off the ball.

There was one play late within the second quarter that spoke to Giddey’s limitations in Oklahoma City’s halfcourt offence because the 20-year-old received the ball within the dunker spot and was unable to complete as three Raptors defenders swarmed, passing out and later being ignored close to the 3-point line.

It was not simply Giddey with teammate Lu Dort additionally left open in a rising development for the Thunder, with the offensive match and subject when these two are on the court docket collectively.

When Giddey re-entered the sport with 8:57 on the clock within the third quarter the Raptors had a 69-51 lead and the Thunder had been in determined want of some spark.

The Australian offered simply that however not in the way in which most individuals would have anticipated, recording two fast blocks on a pair of tried RJ Barrett pictures.

Giddey then, shaping to move to Chet Holmgren who was on the transfer in the direction of the rim, as a substitute aggressively drove in the direction of the bucket himself earlier than pulling as much as shoot and drawing a foul within the course of.

That aggressive method paid dividends quickly after as Giddey spun in the direction of the paint and as a substitute kicked it out to a wide-open Aaron Wiggins, who lowered Toronto’s result in 78-70.

Giddey then made the Raptors pay for double-teaming teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after the Thunder guard handed to the Australian, faking the 3-pointer try and bodily drive at Thaddeus Young and make the floating soar shot.

Giddey then capped off a dominant third quarter with a 3-pointer, this time faking the move earlier than launching it from deep, as Oklahoma City went into the fourth solely trailing 87-81.

Giddey began the fourth quarter on the bench however shortly got here again in after lower than two minutes, ending off a fast-break alternative after a Kenrich Williams steal.

That Giddey bucket tied the sport at 91-91 earlier than 5 fast factors from Dort noticed the Thunder take the lead.

Evidence of simply how locked in Giddey was got here quickly after with 5 minutes left in regulation as Gilgeous-Alexander made a transfer in the direction of the rim with defenders crowding him.

Clearly taking part in a number of the most assured basketball of the season, Giddey additionally minimize in the direction of the bucket as a passing choice and was in place to financial institution it residence after the Gilgeous-Alexander miss.

It was a case of being in the proper place on the proper time however Giddey made the trouble to get there.

Giddey later made one other 3-pointer earlier than flashing the playmaking capability he has by no means misplaced regardless of his struggles elsewhere this season, discovering Aaron Wiggins off a sideline out of bounds move to ship the sport to additional time.

It would take two additional time durations to separate the groups, with the Thunder ending on high as Giddey as soon as once more drove in the direction of the rim late within the piece for an and-1, letting out a roar as he introduced up a season-high 24 factors.

Four different Thunder gamers scored 20 factors within the win whereas MVP candidate Gilgeous-Alexander had 14 assists and solely two turnovers regardless of being continually examined by the Raptors defence.