Clutch Exum, ‘game-changing’ Giddey… and cheeky Ingles acts as Australians come up big in NBA

Cometh the moment, cometh the man.

While it had been the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving show, as it usually is, for the majority of Dallas’ game against Houston on Monday, it was Dante Exum who stood tall when the duo needed him most to help the Mavericks to a 147-136 overtime win.

With Doncic doubled, the Slovenian superstar passed to an open Exum who confidently pulled up and drained a 3-pointer to force overtime and Dallas went on with the job from that point.

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Doncic and Irving combined for 85 points in the win, with the former falling just short of a triple-double after finishing on 37 points to go alongside 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Exum, meanwhile, had a team-high plus-minus of +23 as he went 5-for-11 from the field on the way to 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Speaking to reporters after Monday’s game, Exum said there was a “split second” where he considered giving the ball to PJ Washington to take the shot before finding Doncic.

Exum quickly decided against it.

“So I just went and grabbed it, tried to get the ball to Luka and obviously knew they were going to try and double so it was just about not getting the offensive foul first and then setting up my feet,” the Australian added.

“Luka is obviously great knowing two guys are obviously going to double him and trusting his teammates.”

That trust is “big” according to Exum.

“It’s happened a lot throughout the season, just missing one shot and them coming to you, ‘Shoot the next one, shoot the next one’. I think in those big moments when you need to knock it down it just kind of reminds you of the times they had your back,” he said.

Irving, who has previously described Exum as the team’s “swiss army knife” due to his versatility, said his teammate was “ready for the moment”.

“It’s not about the make or miss, it’s about the fundamentals that Dante exuded when he needed to make the shot,” Irving said.

“Balance, shot-ready, was ready for the moment, let’s give him credit, let’s give Luka credit.”

For the Rockets, it was a fifth straight loss after Houston won 11 on the trot to suddenly force its way into the playoff conversation.

Monday’s loss eliminated Houston from postseason contention.

Jock Landale, who has made the most of his opportunity with regular starting big man Alperen Sengun sidelined, had 13 points in the loss.

‘GAME-CHANGING’ GIDDEY HELPS STOP LOSING SKID FOR THUNDER

Elsewhere, another Australian continued his strong recent run of form as Josh Giddey played a crucial role in Oklahoma City’s nervy 121-118 win over the lowly Charlotte Hornets.

It was a much-needed victory for the Thunder, who remained without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams as they snapped a three-game losing skid.

All five of Oklahoma City’s starters finished in double figures as Giddey led the way with a team-high plus-minus of +15, recording his second triple double in five games as he put up 20 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists.

Giddey set the tone early with seven points in the space of 50 seconds to put the Thunder up 13-4, playing with much more aggression as has been the case for the Australian recently.

That aggressive approach will be the key for Giddey when Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams return, especially if his 3-point shooting regresses.

Regardless of whether the shots are going in, more hustle plays like the one Giddey made to secure a crucial rebound for the Thunder and spark a second-chance 3-pointer for Aaron Wiggins late in Monday’s game will continue to keep him on the floor for big minutes.

“I love rebounding,” Giddey said of the play, which denied the Hornets a potential chance to go four ahead and instead saw the Thunder take a one-point lead.

“It’s a way to push the break and get out and run so being in there more you’re going to get hit a bit more. I love those kinds of plays… just bringing a kind of physicality that is contagious and other guys can follow.”

Speaking of Wiggins, he had a season-high 26 points to go with five assists and six steals for the Thunder in the win.

“I think he plays his role perfectly every night,” Giddey said of his teammate.

“He knows when he needs to score, defend, rebound… tonight he did a great job. He was aggressive all night. He’s a really good creator with the ball in his hands.

“He’s a special player. Although he doesn’t always have nights like tonight where he scores that many points, he does the little things for this team.”

‘DRUNK UNCLE’ INGLES’ HILARIOUS MOMENTS, DYSON IN SPOTFIRE WITH SUNS STAR

Meanwhile, Joe Ingles had one of his more productive games of the season as a strong 31-14 first quarter saw the Orlando Magic finish on top of the Chicago Bulls 113-98.

Ingles went 3-for-4 from deep on his way to nine points in the win, while the Australian also recorded five assists, three rebounds and two steals.

The veteran was doing everything on Monday, even taking a charge at one point to the amusement of his teammates, who erupted on the bench.

“This is a nice job. The old man knew as soon as he got hit it was going to be a charge called,” Jeff Turner joked on Bally Sports Florida’s broadcast of the game.

“You saw the reaction of his teammates,” added David Steele.

“They got as much of a reaction out of it as he did.”

Ingles was having so much fun that he received a technical foul for talking too much trash after hitting his first 3-pointer of the night.

Former NBA player turned sports commentator Stacey King jokingly likened Ingles to a “drunk uncle” that is “always saying something”.

“Like be quiet,” he added laughing.

The Australian also was part of a running battle with Chicago’s Javonte Green.

“It wasn’t nothing. I guess you can call it friendly conversation,” Green said post-game.

“He just yelled something out when I was in the corner and shot that corner three (in the first quarter). I just let him know things have changed.”

Ingles wasn’t the only Australian who clashed with a rival player on Monday, with Pelicans guard Dyson Daniels getting into it with Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker.

The pair were both assessed technical fouls after a Booker offensive foul for running into Zion Williamson prompted Daniels to give the Suns guard a slight push.

Booker pushed back and the two shared words, with Jose Alvarado running to the Australian’s defence and getting in his rival’s face before Drew Eubanks tried to subdue the situation.

The Pelicans led 86-82 at that point of the game and went on to finish 113-105 winners.

Daniels was solid with 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block and steal while Booker had 25 points and seven assists in the loss, which saw New Orleans draw level with Phoenix on a 46-32 record.

Elsewhere, with Monday’s victory the Magic are now third in the Eastern Conference and just one game back from the Milwaukee Bucks.

PRESSURE BUILDS ON DOC RIVERS AMID WORRYING BUCKS SLIDE

Speaking of which, pressure is building on Bucks coach Doc Rivers after Milwaukee dropped a fourth straight game, this time going down to the Knicks 122-109.

While losing to the Knicks, who now sit 4th in the East, is hardly something to be concerned about, it follows defeats to the lowly Wizards, Grizzlies and Raptors.

When Milwaukee fired Adrian Griffin earlier in the season it was 30-13 and while the defence improved noticeably after Rivers took over, consistency has been something the Bucks have struggled to find as the playoffs approach.

Milwaukee is now 15-17 under Rivers with multiple blown leads and the reality of the three losses prior to the Knicks game had already started to weigh on the Bucks coach.

“The last three were against pretty bad teams,” Rivers told reporters.

“And, to me, that’s inexcusable. For all of us.”

Khris Middleton, who exited Monday’s game after being hit in the mouth midway through the second quarter, echoed Rivers’ sentiments after the loss to the Raptors.

“We lose three games in a row the way we have against the opponents we have, it’s frustrating,” Middleton said.

“You don’t want to disrespect any of those guys on the other side but when you look at it, we should be able to handle these teams. Especially what we’re fighting for. We’re fighting for the bigger picture.”

Jalen Brunson starred in the win for the Knicks on Monday with 43 points, eight rebounds and six assists as New York rallied to win the final two quarters 72-48.

OTHER NBA SCORES

Clippers 120 defeat Cavaliers 118

Pacers 117 defeat Heat 115

Celtics 124 defeat Trail Blazers 107

Raptors 130 defeat Wizards 122

Spurs 126 defeated by 76ers 133 (2OT)

Nets 77 defeated by Kings 107

Warriors 118 defeated Jazz 110

Lakers 117 defeated by Timberwolves 127