Josh Giddey and the Oklahoma City Thunder are building momentum into the start of the NBA season after taking down the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
The Thunder took it to superstar duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damien Lillard to claim a 124-101 preseason victory.
Giddey registered a team high 19 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists in just 24 minutes.
The Australian, who is entering his third year in the NBA, was aggressive throughout, scoring regularly inside.
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Chet Holmgren, the No.2 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, finished with 18 points in 25 minutes and claimed one of the highlights of the night with a block on Lillard.
It typified the defensive effort of the Thunder who held the Bucks to 39.1% shooting from the floor.
“I thought tonight was a nice step forward (defensively),” head coach Mark Daigneault said. “A lot of progress on that end of the floor. It looked like we knew what we were doing in our normal schemes.”
That dedication on defence saw Antetokounmpo and Lillard limited to just 23 points. It was a frustrating night for Lillard, who joined the Bucks in a blockbuster offseason trade and is in the middle of a four-year $176 million ($275m AUD) contract.
He recorded just the five points on two of eleven shooting in a miserable night for the All-Star.
“They obviously want to play through Dame and Giannis,” Giddey said after the match.
“I think if you can push them out and make other guys beat you, it makes things tough for that team. We did an awesome job defensively tonight.”
Three point percentage was an Achilles heel for the Thunder last season, ranking 18th in the league from beyond the arc (35.5%). A renewed focus on ball movement appears to be having an impact with the Thunder going 18 fom 39 against the Bucks to take their preseason percentage to 37.6%
Big Ben deep in his bag once again! | 00:39
Speaking after the game, Giddey lauded the selfless culture in the team.
“I think that’s the best part about our team is having to sacrifice,” he said.
“Some nights, you’re not going to have the ball as much as others and we’re really fortunate.
“It could be easy for guys to get upset and say they want the ball more, but fortunately we’ve got a group that understands.
“Specifically going back to our starting group, we’re all good with the ball in our hands. So we make the right play, make the extra pass and we understand that this team is gonna look good if we all buy into what we’re trying to do and continue to be unselfish, make the right play and that’s what the guys are doing.
The Thunder will have one more preseason game against the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
SCORES
Bucks 101, Thunder 124
Knickjs 110, Celtics 123
Maccabi Ra’anana 111, Timberwolves 128
Pelicans 104, Magic 92
Raptors 106, Bulls 102
Nuggets 103, Clippers 116
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