Josh Giddey shined in one of his best games in a Bulls jersey and Chicago eased past Josh Green’s Charlotte Hornets 109-95 at United Center on Saturday (all times AEDT).
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Giddey filled up the box score, posting 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field with three triples, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals to help the Bulls snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 11-15.
It continued Giddey’s strong form against Charlotte, who he has the highest scoring average (20.2) against of any NBA opponent.
The Aussie started particularly hot with eight first-quarter points — including two 3-pointers — to go with three rebounds and three assists to set the tone for the home side.
All five Bulls starters scored in double figures in a game they took a double-digit lead from the 7:23 mark in the second term and didn’t let Charlotte get any closer than eight points for the rest of the way.
The Hornets, who regained Miles Bridges from injury for his first game since November 20 and reinserted Mark Williams into the starting line-up as he ramps up from a foot issue, were led by 21 points from Brandon Miller.
Green added nine points, one 3-pointer, two rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 31 minutes.
LaMelo Ball remains sidelined with a calf issue, missing the chance to play against older brother Lonzo, as Charlotte dropped its ninth game from its last 10 to fall to 7-18 on the season.
SIXERS FALL TO PACERS, EMBIID HURT AGAN
Just when Philadelphia was finally healthy and getting its season on track …
The 76ers fell to the Indiana Pacers at home 121-107 in a game Joel Embiid exited early with a facial injury.
Embiid just before half-time copped an errant forearm to the face from Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin while wrestling for a rebound.
The star Sixers centre was left floored for some time before exiting the court. The team early in the second half ruled him out for the remainder of the game with 12 points, four rebounds and five assists in 17 minutes.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Embiid suffered a sinus fracture and will be further evaluated in the coming days.
Embiid has played in just six of Philadelphia’s 23 games due to swelling in his left knee as well as serving a three-game suspension for an altercation with a reporter.
The loss saw Philly fall to 7-16 on the season — including 1-5 with Embiid in the line-up. The Sixers big three of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have played parts in only three games together.
Tyrese Haliburton was dialled in for the 11-15 Pacers with 32 points, seven triples and 11 assists and Pascal Siakam added 23 points and eight rebounds. Maxey led Philly with 22 points in the loss.
NETS UNRAVEL AGAINST RED-HOT GRIZZLIES AS TEMPERS FLARE
For two minutes, the Nets lost their poise.
And lost the game.
The Nets came unglued in a third-quarter blitz, and it cost them in a 135-119 loss to the Grizzlies before 15,983 at FedEx Forum.
It was testy, with Dennis Schroder and Ja Morant picking up late technicals, and Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins refusing to shake the former’s hand after the game.
It precipitated another dust-up when the pair had to be separated.
Morant poured in a game-high 28 points and relished in taunting the Nets, from motioning to the bench before taking off for a dunk to strutting upcourt at the close of the first half and right in front of Jordi Fernandez’s face.
But it was a two-minute implosion in the third that turned a two-point deficit into a blowout, Brooklyn coughing up a 13-0 run that included two technical fouls, a delay of game and Nic Claxton failing to get back on defence to allow a backbreaking 3-pointer.
It added up to their first loss against the Grizzlies this season.
Brooklyn (10-15) had won both of their scheduled contests and seemed primed for a sweep, but had a third Memphis date added to the slate after failing to advance in the NBA Cup.
It’s the first time they’ve played three games against a West foe since 1978-79.
The Nets — who were sitting a surprising eighth in the Eastern Conference — fell to tenth, just ½ game ahead of 11th-place Detroit and being in the lottery.
There are a number of tank-happy fans that will be pleased by that.
-This story was originally published by Brian Lewis in The New York Post and reproduced with permission.
ALL RESULTS
PACERS 121 76ERS 107
WIZARDS 105 CAVALIERS 115
HORNETS 95 BULLS 109
NETS 119 GRIZZLIES 135
LAKERS 87 TIMBERWOLVS 97
CLIPPERS 98 NUGGETS 120
SUNS – JAZZ
SPURS – TRAIL BLAZERS
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