Australian teen prima Josh Giddey enjoyed a career-high successful assists contiguous arsenic Oklahoma City Thunder bushed the Memphis Grizzlies 102-99.
Giddey tied his career-high of 19 points, portion besides notching 11 assists - the astir he's ever produced successful a azygous NBA game. He besides added 5 rebounds and 1 steal.
Despite falling two points abbreviated of a maiden NBA triple-double connected the weekend, the 19-year-old's stat-stuffing show against the Grizzlies meant helium became conscionable the 2nd teen successful NBA past to nutrient astatine slightest 20 rebounds and 20 assists crossed a two-game span.
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Giddey, who past twelvemonth played for the Adelaide 36ers, joined erstwhile NBL prima turned NBA superstar LaMelo Ball arsenic the lone 2 teenagers to execute that honour.
Giddey's playmaking quality proved important precocious successful the lucifer erstwhile things got tight, and it didn't spell unnoticed with Thunder manager Mark Daigneault lauding the Australian.
"If anyone Australian has the shot connected an inbounds walk you should chopped hard," helium told reporters aft the match.
"That's a luxury erstwhile you've got a feline similar him. Just his vision, his anticipation, the mode helium scans the court.
"It starts earlier helium gets the ball. The infinitesimal we person an inbound, helium knows he's the guy."
While Giddey was speedy to leap connected societal media and bask the Thunder's victory, truthful were a fig of NBA pundits who each praised his performance.
The Grizzlies led 50-47 astatine halftime.
Oklahoma City surged up 69-60 precocious successful the 3rd 4th arsenic Luguentz Dort recovered from 1-for-9 shooting successful the archetypal half. Dort made 3 three-pointers successful the quarter, and the Thunder concisely led by 10 points earlier ending the play with a 74-72 advantage.
The Thunder overcame an 89-84 shortage successful the last 4:36 and took the pb for bully astatine 96-95 connected Giddey's layup with 50 seconds remaining.
The past clip these teams met, the Grizzlies acceptable an NBA grounds for borderline of triumph successful a 152-79 thrashing. In the Dec 3 crippled — besides astatine FedExForum — Memphis established franchise records for seat points (93) and tract goals made (60).
- with AP
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