Moronic blunder sparks OT loss; forgotten Aussie’s best game in years as Mills returns: NBA Wrap
Chet Holmgren stepped up in crunch time and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 factors because the Oklahoma City Thunder edged out the Golden State Warriors 138-136 in an extra time basic on Saturday (all occasions AEDT).
After what’d been a quiet efficiency from Steph Curry, who’d been effectively held by Lu Dort all contest, the sharpshooter obtained scorching late within the fourth – scoring 10 factors contained in the final 5 minutes together with an enormous go-ahead triple with 19 seconds remaining.
However a careless Draymond Green foul on Holmgren’s three-point shot put the Thunder massive man to the road as he calmly made three essential free throws earlier than Curry’s deep miss on the different finish despatched the sport into the additional interval.
Watch a median of 9 NBA Regular Season video games per week LIVE on ESPN, accessible through Kayo. Join Kayo now and begin streaming immediately >
Holmgren would sink a decisive triple in OT to increase the Thunder’s result in 130-121 adopted by an enormous and-one play that he celebrated exhausting to stretch their benefit out to double digits.
But throughout the frantic further interval at Paycom Centre, Golden State stored coming, with Jonathan Kuminga scoring six fast factors to make it a 133-129 Thunder lead with a minute remaining.
A Curry three obtained the Warriors inside two factors with 30 seconds to play, however Dort hit an essential layup on Holmgren’s help that finally sealed the win for OKC.
“Another classic between these teams,” Thunder commentator Chris Fisher stated as the house aspect improved to 14-7 on the season to consolidate the West’s two seed.
“We have enough to win a championship. I believe that. But if we are just going to throw the ball to the other team and foul over and over, then we’re going to lose,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated post-game.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 15-of-30 from the sector for his game-high 38 factors, including 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a full line.
Holmgren (21 factors, seven rebounds, three blocks) and Jalen Williams (28 factors, three steals) additionally had massive video games, whereas Josh Giddey had 9 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals however didn’t play down the stretch of the fourth quarter or in OT.
Curry led the Warriors with 34 factors on an ideal 8-of-8 capturing from the road with six triples and 6 rebound and Kuminga added 24 factors and 12 boards off the bench. Golden State fell to 10-12.
EXUM’S BEST GAME IN YEARS
Turns out all Dante Exum wanted to lift his sport was to develop into a father.
The Aussie, whose daughter Daria was born on December 1, obtained the beginning with Kyrie Irving out and had 20 factors via simply three quarters as Dallas went on to beat Portland 125-112.
Exum completed with 23 on 9-of-15 capturing plus seven assists and 6 rebounds, whereas Luka Doncic led the best way with 32 factors and 10 assists.
It was Exum’s first 20+ level sport since January 5, 2020, when he had 28 for the Cavaliers in a loss to the Wolves.
MILLS SIGHTING IN SEASON-HIGH MINUTES
We had one other Patty Mills sighting!
The Aussie veteran obtained an prolonged run within the Atlanta Hawks’ 114-125 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday (all occasions AEDT).
Mills performed a season-high 17 minutes off the bench, scoring three factors with two assists and a steal, whereas he was the one Hawk within the second unit with a optimistic plus/minus at +1.
“That’s the Patty Mills we know,” Hawks commentator Dominique Wilkins stated after Mills’ three-pointer within the second quarter.
It got here as Atlanta was lacking two starters in Trae Young and Jalen Johnson as its dropping streak prolonged to a few video games and its file fell to 9-12.
Mills, 35, has endured a troublesome season, his first marketing campaign in Atlanta since being traded a number of occasions within the low season.
He’s performed in only one different common season sport, scoring three factors in 5 minutes in a match in opposition to Washington final month.
De’Andre Hunter’s 24 factors led all Hawks starters in double figures, whereas Joel Embiid had 38 factors, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks in one other dominant exhibiting from the star centre and Tyrese Maxey added 30 factors and 7 assists.
ELSEWHERE …
Though the San Antonio Spurs suffered a Sixteenth-straight loss in a 121-112 defeat to the Chicago Bulls, Victor Wembanyama reminded the NBA world how dominant he might be.
The No. 1 decide racked up 21 factors, 20 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in 31 minutes. According to StatMuse, Wembanyama grew to become the primary rookie to file such numbers since Shaquille O’Neal and the youngest participant in NBA historical past with a 20-20 sport.
It comes after OKC’s Chet Holmgren has taken over because the favorite for Rookie of the Year in current weeks in a scorching stretch, however Wembanyama once more staked his declare in what looms as one of the entertaining races for the main award.
Coby White (24 factors, six assists), Nikola Vucevic (21 factors, 16 boards), DeMar DeRozan (20 factors, 10 rebounds) and Pat Williams (20 factors) additionally had massive performances as Chicago gained a fourth-straight sport with out Zach LaVine to enhance to 9-14.
The Spurs in the meantime dropped to 3-18.
ALL RESULTS
HAWKS 114 76ERS 125
PISTONS 91 MAGIC 123
RAPTORS 116 HORNETS 119
KNICKS 123 CELTICS 133
WIZARDS 97 NETS 124
WARRIORS 136 THUNDER 138 (OT)
TIMBERWOLVES 127 GRIZZLIES 103
CAVALIERS 111 HEAT 99
BULLS 121 SPURS 112
ROCKETS 114 NUGGETS 106
KINGS 114 SUNS 106
MAVERICKS 125 TRAIL BLAZERS 112
CLIPPERS 117 JAZZ 103
