While Josh Giddey is Australia’s rising basketball star, Ben Simmons reminded his fellow countryman what he can do.
Simmons flirted with a triple-double in the Aussies’ first ever NBA meeting in the Brooklyn Nets’ 120-112 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday (all times AEDT).
Simmons racked up eight points, eight rebounds, a game-high 11 assists and two blocks in just 25 minutes, with his flashy passing on full display in his best performance this campaign.
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Giddey had 11 points on an inefficient 5-of-17 shooting from the field, but added six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
It marked just the second time this season Giddey didn’t hit a three-pointer despite averaging a career-best two per game at a 58 per cent clip going into the contest.
Cam Thomas was the real hero for Brooklyn, getting hot in crunch time. Thomas scored 10 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter — including nailing a three-pointer from the logo — as the Nets ended the game on a 24-16 run to claim the victory and improve to 3-3.
Simmons was also crucial in igniting Brooklyn’s fourth-quarter comeback. He threaded a beautiful bounce pass to Ziaire Williams through traffic for his 11th assist as the Nets took back a 100-98 lead with 8:56 remaining
“The vision of Ben Simmons on display, Ben Simmons locked in,” Yes Network’s Ian Eagle said.
Sarah Kustok added on the broadcast: “What a pass, Simmons sees it from mid-court.”
Simmons checked out of the game soon after and didn’t return as the Nets opt for a conservative approach with the Aussie due to his ongoing back issues.
Chicago is also now 3-3 after the first of three meetings between these teams this season.
COACH’S HUGE PRAISE FOR AUSSIE NBA DEBUTANT
Elsewhere, former Melbourne United star Luke Travers saw his first minutes in the NBA and was highly productive, drawing praise from Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson.
Travers, who was taken late in the second round of the 2022 draft, earned a two-way contract with Cleveland this season and while he may spend most of his time playing in the G-League, he did his chances of earning a spot in the Cavaliers’ rotation no harm on Saturday.
Travers scored four points to go with two assists, two rebounds and a block in just four minutes, with his best moment of the night coming in a defensive stand against Magic rookie Tristan de Silva.
“He played his tail off, and he’s so smart,” Atkinson said post-game.
“I mean what could this guy be? 6’8, he can really pass, I love that he can shoot the ball without hesitation. He was fun to watch tonight.”
Cleveland won the game against Orlando 120-109 to maintain its undefeated start to the season.
HORNET EJECTED AFTER BRUTAL HIT ON FORMER TEAMMATE
Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams was ejected during his team’s 124-109 loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday morning (AEDT) for a hard foul on Jayson Tatum.
Midway through the fourth quarter with Tatum dribbling up the floor, Williams came from the Boston superstar’s left and gave him a brutal hip check, knocking him to the floor.
The foul was ruled a Flagrant 2 and in turn, an immediate ejection.
“(Williams) accelerates, makes significant impact to the dribbler — a non-basketball play, potential for injury,” the official said.
Williams spent four years as Tatum’s teammate on the Celtics before moving onto the Dallas Mavericks and then the Hornets.
Celtics guard Derrick White didn’t mince words when asked about the incident in the locker rooms post-game.
“That stuff at the end was BS,” White said via Marc D’Amico of the Celtics.
Williams wouldn’t be the only Hornet to be ejected, with Miles Bridges harshly given his marching orders for swatting a loose ball into the crowd.
Tatum led the way for Boston, scoring 32 points while Jaylen Brown poured in 25.
The win moves the Celtics to 5-1 on the young season.
LAKERS CALL OUT ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ LATE COLLAPSE IN WIN AGAINST RAPTORS
In Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers let a 26-point lead dwindle to single digits but held on to snap a two-game losing streak with a 131-125 victory over the Raptors.
LeBron James set the tone early, scoring 14 of his 27 points in the first quarter.
Anthony Davis poured in 38 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in another monster offensive effort. However, he was more concerned that the Lakers, up 76-51 at halftime, let the Raptors back into the game.
Toronto had cut the deficit to six points early in the fourth quarter and the Lakers’ lead was at eight, 106-98, when Rui Hachimura drilled a pair of three-pointers to push Los Angeles’ advantage back to 12.
That lead was halved with 1:02 remaining before the Lakers closed it out.
“Unacceptable,” Davis said.
“We won, and we’ll take the win for sure because it’s hard to win in this league, especially on the road.
“But we’re a long way from where we want to be,” he said.
“If we’re going to have any goals and aspirations to do anything this season, we can’t allow that on the defensive end.”
NBA SCORES – November 2
Magic 109 @ Cavaliers 120
Knicks 128 @ Pistons 98
Kings 123 @ Hawks 115
Celtics 124 @ Hornets 109
Bulls 112 @ Nets 120
Lakers 131 @ Raptors 125
Pacers 118 @ Pelicans 125
Nuggets 116 @ Timberwolves 119
Thunder 137 @ Trail Blazers 114
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