Josh Giddey missed another game through injury for the Chicago Bulls as Yuki Kawamura, the shortest player in franchise history, stole the show late in a 125-118 win over the Miami Heat.
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The fan favourite guard, who impressed during the Summer League and earned a two-way deal before being waived prior to the season due to a right lower leg injury, was back in the fold for the Bulls after being re-signed early last month.
It proved a timely signing as Chicago’s guard depth is being tested right now, with Giddey missing his second-straight game on Sunday after suffering hamstring tightness.
The Australian only recently returned from a hamstring injury and the team is choosing to be cautious with him, not wanting to put Giddey back on the court until he feels comfortable.
Giddey wasn’t the only one sidelined on Sunday, with Coby White and Tre Jones also out which left the Bulls desperate for minutes in the backcourt.
It meant Kawamura got the call-up on Sunday and the Japanese-born guard sent the crowd wild when he first forced and then came down with the jump ball.
“He won the tip! He won the tip!” Adam Amin said in commentary.
Kawamura later told reporters it was his first win on a jump ball since he started playing basketball.
“I’m so happy,” he added.
“I’ve been a big Chicago Bulls fan my whole life. I’m so happy to be here. I just wanted to bring energy.”
It was just one of several highlights from Kawamura, who also had six points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in just 11 minutes.
AUSSIE VICTIM IN CAVALIERS TRADE
Elsewhere, former Melbourne United guard Luke Travers was one of the victims of a major trade ahead of next week’s deadline on Friday.
Travers, who had seen limited minutes as part of Cleveland’s rotation, has been waived by the Cavaliers after the Eastern Conference contenders agreed to a three-team deal with the Bulls and Kings.
The trade, which was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, saw Cleveland send De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis while Chicago acquired Dario Saric and two future second-round picks as part of the deal.
Ellis, who is set to become a free agent after this season, was highly sought after ahead of the trade deadline as an affordable 3-and-D guard who would be an immediate upgrade to any contending roster.
Schröder, meanwhile, has now been traded eight times in his career and offers Cleveland a veteran depth option in the backcourt which could be handy given Darius Garland’s issues staying healthy.
As for the Kings, Hunter could still be moved on before Friday’s deadline with Sacramento expected to be one of the more active teams on the market with former All-Stars Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan also candidates to be moved.
The Bulls, meanwhile, grabbed some extra draft capital to take on Saric’s expiring contract.
HORNETS CONTINUE WILD RISE
Brandon Miller scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to power the Charlotte Hornets over the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 for their sixth consecutive win.
Miller, taken just behind Spurs top pick Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft, helped the hosts hold on after San Antonio sliced their 20-point lead to 106-104 with 97 seconds remaining.
After Wembanyama missed a potential tying three-pointer, Miller sank two free throws — running his streak of made shots from the line to 38 — with 10.6 seconds remaining to create the final margin of victory.
“Got to take my hat off to them. Very competitive players,” Miller said of the Spurs’ fightback.
“Everybody came out with the mindset of competing at the highest level and making every winning play they can and that’s how we got the win.”
Collin Sexton added 21 off the bench and LaMelo Ball scored 16 points with, eight rebounds and eight assists for Charlotte, whose win streak is their longest since March 2016.
Spurs reserve Dylan Harper scored 20 points. French All-Star Wembanyama had 16 points and eight rebounds while Stephon Castle added 16 points and nine assists.
Giannis Wants OUT! Bucks trade talks | 01:24
SUPERSTAR’S HONEST ADMISSION ON STATEMENT GAME
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid scored 40 points and added 11 rebounds to help the 76ers hold on for a 124-114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, hours after Sixers star Paul George was suspended 25 games for violating the NBA Anti-Drug Program.
George told ESPN he mistakenly took an unapproved medication as part of mental health treatment, vowing to use his time away to be ready to help the team when he’s eligible to return in March.
Without him, the 76ers had to battle. Former NBA Most Valuable Player Embiid scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Philadelphia led by as many as 15 in the first half and took a six-point lead into the final frame.
Embiid’s turnover set up a Jose Alvarado three-pointer that put New Orleans up 105-104 midway through the fourth, but Embiid’s turnaround jump shot with 3:48 remaining broke a 109-109 tie with 3:48 remaining and the Sixers pulled away for a third straight win.
“I actually think I had a bad game,” Embiid said of his first 40-point game of the season.
“I missed a lot of easy shots. The efficiency wasn’t there, but I’m glad we locked in in the fourth quarter.
“We got some stops and we made the right plays,” he said.
Kelly Oubre Jr added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey scored 18 points for Philadelphia. Saddiq Bey led the Pelicans with 34 points.
Embid and Maxey star in late 76ers win | 01:08
IN OTHER GAMES AROUND THE NBA
Indiana guard Andrew Nebhard scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 25 and Aaron Nesmith chipped in 23 as the Pacers held off the Atlanta Hawks 129-124.
The Pacers emerged from high-scoring first half with an 80-73 lead and never trailed after the break, although the Hawks kept it close and twice cut the deficit to one point in the fourth quarter before Indiana managed to pull away.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, fueled by 33 points from Anthony Edwards and 27 from Julius Randle, notched their fourth straight victory, 131-114 over the Grizzlies in Memphis.
In Houston, Amen Thompson scored 21 points with eight rebounds and nine assists to lead the Rockets to a 111-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Six Houston players scored in double figures as the Rockets closed out a narrow win despite a 34-point, 12-rebound performance from the Mavs’ 19-year-old rookie Cooper Flagg.
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