NBA Wrap: Josh Giddey continues to impress as Patty Mills stars

Josh Giddey appeared to solve his biggest issue in a huge win for the Thunder as Patty Mills made the most of a rare start for the Brooklyn Nets.

Josh Giddey is getting so close to that elusive NBA triple-double. Picture: Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Josh Giddey continues to dazzle in his rookie season, earning his second NBA double-double as the Oklahoma City Thunder routed a struggling Houston Rockets side.

Funnily enough, Giddey brought his shooting game with him and scored 14 points, ending a barren run of six games without notching double figures.

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He also snared 11 rebounds in the Thunder’s 101-89 win, improving the team’s record to 5-8 to leave them 11th in the Western Conference, while the Rockets slumped to 1-13.

Giddey only had the two assists to his name, the lowest amount he has had in a single match all season for the Thunder.

The 19-year-old’s last double-double came against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Thunder’s fifth game of the season, which coincidentally was their first victory this year too.

Having already become the youngest player in Thunder history to record a double-double, it shows just how good the Melburnian can be as he bagged his second.

One reason as to why Giddey has hit the ground running so early in his NBA career is the physicality involved in the NBL as he opted to play for the Adelaide 36ers instead of playing college basketball in America.

“Australia is a physical league,” Giddey told reporters post-game.

“That’s one of the reasons I chose the NBL over college, to play against grown men, which for me was better than playing against other kids in college.

“It’s one of the best leagues in the world.”

Josh Giddey earned his second NBA double-double. Picture: Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

As Giddey proves he has what it takes to mix with the world’s best, fellow Aussie Patty Mills bounced back with 21 points of his own as the Brooklyn Nets swept aside the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Nets were coming off an 18-point defeat to the Golden State Warriors, in which Mills struggled.

However, the Boomers captain was handed a starting berth in place of Joe Harris, who missed out with an ankle injury, and grabbed his chance with both hands as he hit the 20-point mark for the second time in his last three appearances and the fourth time this season.

Much had been made of his cold shooting form earlier in the season, but in classic Mills fashion, he responded to his critics in the best way possible.

“I just moved to New York. I don’t have any warm clothes yet,” Mills told reporters post-match.

Mills’ 21-point haul included six three-pointers from 12 attempts as the Nets won 109-99 at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn.

The Nets now sit third in the Eastern Conference with an 11-5 record and the Cavaliers sit at 9-7.

Originally published as NBA Wrap: Josh Giddey continues to impress as Patty Mills stars