Giddey joins elite company in Bulls win; ‘cursed’ team’s latest injury disaster confirmed — NBA Wrap

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama celebrated selection for his first All-Star match with a huge win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Earlier this week, the 21-year-old was voted as a Western Conference All-Star, alongside the likes of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, and James Harden, justifying his selection with 30 points and 14 rebounds in a 144-118 win over the Bucks.

Wembanyama’s freakish talents were on show with seven minutes to go in the third, when the seven-foot-three Frenchman retrieved a wayward pass on the halfcourt line, dribbled down the sideline, outmuscling Giannis Antetokounmpo to drain a seemingly impossible three pointer.

That shot came two minutes after Wembanyama casually sank another triple from the logo.

Earlier in the evening, the second year centre denied the Greek Freak on back-to-back plays, blocking two clear cut layups with ease.

Wembanyama is the first Spurs player to make an All-Star game since Dejounte Murray back in 2021-22.

GIDDEY’S HISTORIC HELPING HAND IN BULLS VICTORY

As for the Australians in the NBA, guard Josh Giddey’s 15 point, seven rebound, and six assist cameo was enough to help his Chicago Bulls side to a 122-106 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Giddy wasn’t alone on the night, with Nikola Vucevic and Coby White combining for 46 of Chicago’s 122 points.

The win marked Giddey’s sixth-straight game registering 10-or-more points, marking a fine run of form for the Australian guard, with his performance seeing the 22-year-old become just the fourth player in NBA history to record 1,500-plus assists and 1,500-plus rebounds before turning 23.

The three to achieve his feat before him?

Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic. Some company for the Melbourne boy, who was recently linked with a potential future move to the San Antonio Spurs per NBA insider Jake Fischer.

NUGGETS STAR IGNITES IN LATE WIN

It hasn’t been the finest season of Jamal Murray’s career by any stretch of the imagination. Yet, when the Denver Nuggest needed him, the point guard stepped up – scoring 31 points shooting 12-21 from the field – including two late free throws – and registering 11 assists in their 137-134 win over the 76ers.

Murray was supported, as always, by Nikola Jokic, who amassed 28 points, nine rebounds, and 13 assists, while Michael Porter Jr. (24 points), Christian Braun (15 points), and Julian Strawther (18), all contributed to Denver’s victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

On the other end of the court, 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey’s 42 points wasn’t enough to lead his side to victory, though fellow star men Joel Embiid and Paul George missed the contest.

In their absence, Kelly Oubre Jr. (27 points) and Guerschon Yabusele (28 points), stepped up, though their collective efforts fell short of leading Nick Nurse’s side to victory.

It marked Maxey’s seventh consecutive game where he scored 29 points or more, marking his continual development into arguably the 76ers leading man. His performance further ratified beliefs he was unlucky not to make this year’s All-Star game, with Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Cade Cunningham, Dame Lillard, Jaylen Brown, and Tyler Herro all selected over the 76ers star.

CELTICS TOPPLE PELICANS AS INJURY CURSE CONTINUES

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics downed the New Orleans Pelicans for their 34th win of the season, with Jayson Tatum (28 points) and Jaylen Brown (27 points), leading them to a 118-116 victory – a scene that is all too common in recent seasons.

Making matters worse for New Orleans, it was later confirmed that Dejounte Murray would be out for the season after tearing his Achilles earlier in the game.

It was the latest injury setback for the Pelicans and added credence to Dyson Daniels’ light-hearted claim earlier in the season that his former team is “cursed”.

For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III’s 40-point night, the second-most points he’s recorded in a single game in his career.

He was without help from marquee man Zion Williamson, who revealed during the week his inability to play in back-to-back games is not driven by him, but rather other forces within the Pelicans organisation.

“Let me make this clear to everybody out there. If I could play in the back-to-backs, I would. Physically? Yes, I can”, Williamson told media.

“But I work for the Pelicans. They have decided that, based off the numbers, it’s not smart to do that right now. If that’s what they feel, I’m rocking with them on that.”

DANTE EXUM RETURNS IN MAVERICKS LOSS

In other news, Australian Dante Exum made his season debut in Dallas’ 117-102 loss to Detroit.

The Mavericks guard underwent wrist surgery in the pre-season and has not featured until Saturday, although Exum was on a minutes restriction.

Exum played 14 minutes, scoring three points to go with two rebounds and an assist for a short-handed Mavericks team that was still without Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II and Maxi Kleber.

Cade Cunningham, meanwhile, led the way for the Pistons as he celebrated his All-Star nod with a 40-point statement.