'Grown man s***': Giddey EXPLODES with 'biggest game of his life ...

Australian basketball star Josh Giddey looked completely at home in his NBA postseason debut, as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-118.

Giddey’s 31 points were an equal career high for the 20-year old who fell just short of a triple-double with 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Superstar teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, meanwhile, had a team-high 32 points, five rebounds and three assists.

With a date against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the final play-in match on the line, Giddey and his Thunder teammates got to work early on the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

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The Thunder took a 32-29 lead in the first quarter, with Giddey scoring seven points and nothing three rebounds as Oklahoma City teammate Luguentz Dort had 14 points.

However, the Pelicans came flying out of the blocks in the second quarter and outscored the Thunder 34-25 to take a 63-57 lead at halftime, with Giddey adding a further five points to take his scoring tally to 12.

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But the visitors would flip the switch in the third quarter and return fire in emphatic fashion as the Thunder scored 39 points to New Orleans’ 24.

Giddey exploded to life, scoring 12 in the third to make it 24 points in total.

He earned plenty of rave reviews from NBA fans all over the world for his dazzling display.

Former NBA player JJ Redick wrote: “Hey Josh Giddey is good.”

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann wrote: “Giddey has been absolutely fantastic.”

OKC beat writer Brandon Rahbar called his free throws at the death “ice cold”.

“Biggest stage: best game,” he said.

Phoenix sportscaster Tim Ring said Giddey had a “bright future”.

Skip Bayless waxed lyrical about OKC’s young team, calling him a “taller Austin Reaves”, alongside “superstar” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and “defensive force” Luguentz Dort.

“Chet Holmgren will give OKC a legit shot-blocker and stretch 5,” he said.

“15 first-round picks in the next five years. Terrific young coach.

“Yes, I can see a championship in OKC’s future.”

The Pelicans responded in the fourth quarter, taking the match to the wire but the Thunder held on with some clutch free throws wrapping up a six-point win.