Josh Giddey eruption helps OKC go berserk in NBA madness
The Thunder exploded in a historically offensive domination and huge boilover. Plus Giannis erupted for a career-best 55 points.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have exploded in a historically offensive domination of the Boston Celtics and huge boilover at Paycom Centre on Wednesday (all times AEDT), winning 150-117 behind a big outing from Josh Giddey.
Giddey erupted for 17 points and three three-pointers in the third quarter to help the Thunder go off for a franchise record 48 points in the period and open up a 31-point lead over Boston.
The Aussie checked out at the end of the third with a season-high 25 points – three short of his career-high – on 10-of-15 shooting, three triples, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in 24 minutes.
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OKC’s 150 points also set a franchise record, which is all the more amazing considering it was without superstar leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
It paved for the way for Giddey to take full advantage of the extra ball handling and offensive responsibilities.
“He‘s in the zone right now. Everything he’s throwing up is going in,” Thunder commentator Michael Cage said after Giddey’s third make from downtown in the third term.
“He’s just feeling it and you couldn’t pick a better time without your leading scorer … having the quarter of his life right now. It couldn’t come at a better time because you know the Celtics are trying to make a run at you right now but they’ve been able to starve them off every single time with plays like that.”
Josh Giddey is once again putting on a clinic. Watching him pass never gets old, watching him play is so exciting. The Thunder have a lot of exciting guys, future is bright.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) January 4, 2023
Josh Giddey is completely in the zone right now, getting to the ring at will.
— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) January 4, 2023
He's got 22 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
Josh Giddey is cooking. He’s got 12 points in this quarter alone.
— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) January 4, 2023
The Thunder’s offensive records are also remarkable considering this team once had all three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook in one of the most talented offensive trios of all time.
Elsewhere, Jalen Williams (21 points, six assists, four steals), Lu Dort (23 points), three triples), Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe (both 21 points) have also turned in big performances for the Thunder, who shot 59 per cent from the field including 50 per cent from downtown and improved to 16-21 on the season.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 56 points for the Celtics and Malcolm Brogdon ad Payton Pritchard chipped in 17 each, but the Celtics had no answers to slow down the red-hot Thunder at the other end of the floor.
ELSEWHERE ...
There’s been some monster stat lines in the NBA over the last week, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has added to them.
The Greek Freak went off for a career-high 55 points – the league’s fourth 50-point game in the least four days – to lead the Milwaukee Bucks past the Washington Wizards at home 123-113.
His monster line included shooting 20-of-33 from the field and 16-of-16 from the charity swap with 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Antetokounmpo has now averaged 47.6 points, 17.3 rebounds and 6.3 rebounds over the last week.
In the last week we’ve seen
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 4, 2023
— Spida 71-point game
— Luka 60/21/10 game
— Giannis 55/10/7 game
— LeBron 47/10/9
— Klay 54-point, 10 3P game pic.twitter.com/fTwYNXuDro
Since Christmas:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 4, 2023
Luka —
43.4 PPG | 12.0 RPG | 9.8 APG
Giannis —
42.5 PPG | 15.3 RPG | 5.5 APG
Jokic —
29.0 PPG | 10.3 RPG | 10.8 APG
LeBron —
36.6 PPG | 8.6 RPG | 6.2 APG
Embiid —
35.6 PPG | 10.0 RPG | 4.4 APG
Insane. pic.twitter.com/mX8aULVSNB
Originally published as Josh Giddey eruption helps OKC go berserk in NBA madness
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