'Embarrassing them': Giddey in 'unbelievable' statement, Dyson ...

Aussie NBA stars Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels have put in big performances for their respective sides on Tuesday (all times AEDT).

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Tue, 25 Feb

Tuesday February 25th

Giddey continued his ready hot form since the All-Star break, recording his third-straight double-double in the Chicago Bulls’ 142-110 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers.

He racked up 25 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three blocks with three 3-pointers, shooting 8-of-11 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in 31 minutes.

It included Giddey tallying 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in the first half alone to lead Chicago’s dominance over Philadelphia, who was missing Joel Embiid as the Sixers consider treatment options on the MVP centre’s troublesome knee.

Philadelphia beat writer Rich Hoffman said on the PHLY Sports podcast that Giddey was “embarrassing” the 76ers, describing his performance as “unbelievable” while Kyle Neubeck said the Australian looked like “Magic Johnson for most of the game”.

Over Giddey’s last three games since the All-Star break he’s averaged 25 points, 13 rebounds and six rebounds in arguably the best stretch of the 22-year old’s career, thriving in a bigger role following Zach LaVine’s trade deadline move to Sacramento.

Daniels also came up big for the Atlanta Hawks in a 98-86 win over the Miami Heat, with the young gun at his menacing best on the defensive end.

He registered 10 points, 11 rebounds and a whopping seven steals — including four swipes in an eight-minute period of the fourth quarter — in 34 minutes.

It marked Daniels’ third game this season with seven steals or more, setting a career-high of eight against the Minnesota Timberwolves in December in a stat he leads the NBA in (three per game).

And with injured San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama now eligible for Defensive Player of the Year, Daniels is now very much in the mix for the coveted award in an even field along with the likes of Evan Mobley, Jaren Jackson Jr., Lu Dort and Jalen Williams.

If nothing else, Daniels is likely to make the All-NBA First Team as one of the most improved players in the league this season following his off-season move from the New Orleans Pelicans.

It comes with both Giddey and Daniels on the cusp of lucrative paydays, with Giddey set to become a free agent this off-season, while Daniels becomes extension eligible beyond his rookie deal.

Keep up this level of play and they’ll both be richly rewarded.