NBA: Boomers superstars Patty Mills and Matisse Thybulle go head-to-head

Two Boomers stars who won bronze in Tokyo went head-to-head when the surging Brooklyn Nets played the Philadelphia 76ers.

Patty Mills has won bragging rights over Boomers teammate Matisse Thybulle in an NBA battle between two of Australia’s most popular Olympic basketballers.

Mills’ Brooklyn Nets, who sit atop the NBA’s eastern conference rankings, got off to a flying start against Thybulle and the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday (AEDT), opening up a 20-point lead in the shadows of halftime.

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It took Mills 15 seconds to register his first assist of the game, and true to form, his hands were steady from deep.

The Boomers captain landed three of his four three-point attempts in the first half and finished the gamehaving played the most minutes of any Net bar marquee man Kevin Durant.

BROOOOOKLYYYYYYN pic.twitter.com/PZtTftuXXF

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 17, 2021

As the game wore on, the Sixers recognised Mills as one of the architects of Brooklyn’s lead, targeting him on defence and minimising his influence.

Mills joined the Nets from the San Antonio Spurs this season. Picture: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Led by towering centre Joel Embiid, the visitors changed up their offensive tactics as well and began attacking the paint more deliberately to reignite the contest.

Thybulle was up to his usual tricks, underlining his reputation as one of the league’s most aggressive defenders.

The Arizona-born Sydney-raised star is ranked ninth in the league for steals and came up with two against the Nets.

Thybulle won praise in last week’s clash with the Warriors for becoming the only man ever to block Steph Curry twice in one game, but with Friday’s clash on the line in the fourth quarter, the Sixers made the inexplicable decision not to put him on Kevin Durant, who once again finished the game with a huge haul of points.

Friday’s game was Durant’s 13th this year in which he scored 30 or more points, and his precision late in the game proved enough to secure the Nets their fourth straight win (114-105), and Mills bragging rights over his Boomers teammate.

Nets coach Steve Nash was impressed with the win.

“These guys are playing for one another, they’re trying to play the right way,” he said.

“There’s resilience, spirit and a lot of good basketball in there as well.”

Who gonna get me a Patty Mills jersey for Christmas ?

— Rob Markman 💭 (@RobMarkman) December 17, 2021

Patty Mills no hesitation.

— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) December 17, 2021

WELCOME BACK, THE REAL MATISSE THYBULLE! #SixersOutsiders

— Krystle Rich-Bell (@KrystleRich) December 17, 2021

Matisse Thybulle, offensive savior. Lets go there!

— Pat Gallen (@PatGallenCBS3) December 17, 2021

Originally published as NBA: Boomers superstars Patty Mills and Matisse Thybulle go head-to-head