Simmons shines in new role; ‘all-timer’ blunder while Giddey nearly sparks Bucks upset – NBA Wrap
The Brooklyn Nets are beginning to discover their groove.
Plus the Minnesota Timberwolves woes continues together with an unfathomable blunder.
Catch up on the entire day’s motion in our NBA Wrap!
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KD TRIPLE-DOUBLE POWERS NETS TO ANOTHER WIN
The Brooklyn Nets had been firing on all cylinders – and Ben Simmons regarded loads higher.
Brooklyn smashed crosstown rivals, the New York Knicks, 112-85 at house on Thursday (all instances AEDT), marking the Nets’ third win from their final 4 to enhance to 5-7.
Kevin Durant was monumental with a 29-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist triple-double, Seth Curry poured in a season-high 23 factors and Simmons added six factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals and a block off the bench.
Nets title Jacque Vaughn as head coach | 01:45
The Nets exploded out the gates, dominating the primary quarter 39-22 behind a dominant begin from Kevin Durant. Brooklyn stored its foot on the pedal within the second time period to guide 69-44 lead into the primary break in a one-sided affair.
Durant racked up 15 factors, 9 assists and had no turnovers by half-time, together with his selfless, pass-first mentality reflective of how the entire workforce was enjoying – the place 77 per cent of Brooklyn’s half-time rating sport from assists.
Simmons was arguably the best he’d been all season regardless of enjoying as a reserve once more as he ramps again up from a knee damage.
The Aussie’s effort and vitality went past the stat sheet, diving for rebounds and making performs for his teammates.
He merely regarded extra comfy on the ground and moved a lot better together with making arguably his greatest play of the season, grabbing an enormous offensive rebound between two Knicks gamers after which kicking out to Seth Curry for a three-pointer.
Simmons made one other key hustle play in a run-down steal off Julius Randle resulting in a Joe Harris three-pointer.
The Knicks confirmed improved effort within the second half to at the least lower their deficit beneath 20 in the course of the third quarter.
But Brooklyn once more responded in a scrappy and low-scoring fourth to balloon its margin again out for a blowout victory.
It got here after Nets caretaker Jacque Vaughn earlier on Thursday was introduced because the workforce’s everlasting coach transferring ahead as Irving stays suspended. Brooklyn has gone 3-1 since Irving’s ban.
For New York, Randle had a team-high 24 factors and 11 rebounds and RJ Barrett added 16 factors.
BOOKER MOCKS REELING WOLVES AMID BIZARRE FOUR ON COURT BLUNDER
The Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled early within the season and are in a droop. And this second throughout their assembly with the Phoenix Suns typifies their season.
After Jaylen Nowell went to the road to shoot a pair of free throws, the Timberwolves solely had 4 gamers on the courtroom for the following defensive play.
Minnesota gave up an offensive rebound on the Suns’ first miss, the place D’Angelo Russell may be seen operating on from the bench, earlier than Phoenix’s Torrey Craig makes the Wolves pay with a three-pointer.
The Suns finally received the sport 129-117 behind huge performances from Devin Booker (32 factors, 10 assists), Mikal Bridges (31 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 steals) and Cameron Payne (23 factors, eight assists).
Minnesota reporter Dane Moore revealed late within the sport Booker yelled the Wolves bench: “We play team basketball, we share the ball!”
It marked the Timberwolves’ fifth loss from their final six – falling to 5-7 general.
Gobert did prime rating for the Wolves with 25 factors to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocks, however his addition to the workforce continues to return beneath fireplace amid their detached type.
GIDDEY LIGHTS UP IN DOUBLE OT THRILLER
The Milwaukee Bucks have escaped a tense double OT thriller with a 136-132 highway win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Playing with out Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, Jevon Carter stepped up for the Bucks in an enormous manner with 36 factors and 12 assists, and Brook Lopez racked up 24 factors, 13 boards and 5 blocks.
For OKC, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his monumental begin to the season with 39 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, whereas Josh Giddey (18 factors, 15 boards, six assists) and Aleksej Pokusevski (17 factors, 4 triples, eight rebounds, two steals, two blocks) additionally got here up huge.
After a possible game-winning Carter pull-up shot missed nearing the buzzer of regulation, the sport was despatched to the primary additional interval.
And the Thunder regarded like they had been going to tug out an enormous upset after Gilgeous-Alexander buried an enormous triple with 1.2 left within the first OT to present his facet a 126-125 lead.
That was till Lopez was fouled on the different finish of the top on the inbound play, with the Bucks huge man going to the free throw line and lacking his first shot earlier than making the following to increase the sport right into a second OT.
The Bucks bought consecutive buckets from Lopez and Bobby Portis within the second OT to go forward by 4, whereas each groups traded free throws for the remainder of the best way.
Giddy had an and-one alternative late within the piece and missed the free throw, however the ball deflected off Wesley Matthews advert it was Thunder ball.
Tre Mann missed the following shot and it was sport over.
ALL RESULTS
MAVERICKS 87 MAGIC 94
TRAIL BLAZERS 105 HORNETS 95
NUGGETS 122 PACERS 119
JAZZ 125 HAWKS 119
PISTONS 112 CELTICS 128
KNICKS 85 NETS 112
ROCKETS 109 RAPTORS 116
PELICANS 115 BULLS 111
SUNS 129 TIMBERWOLVES 117
GRIZZLIES 124 SPURS 122
LAKERS – CLIPPERS
CAVALIERS – KINGS
