Josh Giddey stuns as Thunder sound warning; $275m All-Star’s night from hell: NBA Wrap
Josh Giddey and the Oklahoma City Thunder are constructing momentum into the beginning of the NBA season after taking down the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
The Thunder took it to famous person duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damien Lillard to say a 124-101 preseason victory.
Giddey registered a group excessive 19 factors to go together with seven rebounds and 5 assists in simply 24 minutes.
The Australian, who’s getting into his third yr within the NBA, was aggressive all through, scoring recurrently inside.
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Chet Holmgren, the No.2 choose within the 2022 NBA draft, completed with 18 factors in 25 minutes and claimed one of many highlights of the night time with a block on Lillard.
It typified the defensive effort of the Thunder who held the Bucks to 39.1% capturing from the ground.
“I thought tonight was a nice step forward (defensively),” head coach Mark Daigneault stated. “A lot of progress on that end of the floor. It looked like we knew what we were doing in our normal schemes.”
That dedication on defence noticed Antetokounmpo and Lillard restricted to only 23 factors. It was a irritating night time for Lillard, who joined the Bucks in a blockbuster offseason commerce and is in the course of a four-year $176 million ($275m AUD) contract.
He recorded simply the 5 factors on two of 11 capturing in a depressing night time for the All-Star.
“They obviously want to play through Dame and Giannis,” Giddey stated after the match.
“I think if you can push them out and make other guys beat you, it makes things tough for that team. We did an awesome job defensively tonight.”
Three level proportion was an Achilles heel for the Thunder final season, rating 18th within the league from past the arc (35.5%). A renewed give attention to ball motion seems to be having an impression with the Thunder going 18 fom 39 towards the Bucks to take their preseason proportion to 37.6%
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Speaking after the sport, Giddey lauded the selfless tradition within the group.
“I think that’s the best part about our team is having to sacrifice,” he stated.
“Some nights, you’re not going to have the ball as a lot as others and we’re actually lucky.
“It could possibly be simple for guys to get upset and say they need the ball extra, however thankfully we’ve acquired a gaggle that understands.
“Specifically going again to our beginning group, we’re all good with the ball in our fingers. So we make the best play, make the additional cross and we perceive that this group is gonna look good if all of us purchase into what we’re making an attempt to do and proceed to be unselfish, make the best play and that’s what the blokes are doing.
The Thunder could have yet one more preseason recreation towards the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
SCORES
Bucks 101, Thunder 124
Knickjs 110, Celtics 123
Maccabi Ra’anana 111, Timberwolves 128
Pelicans 104, Magic 92
Raptors 106, Bulls 102
Nuggets 103, Clippers 116
