‘First since MJ’: Josh Giddey goes nuclear in first game back

Josh Giddey has etched his name into the record books after delivering a jaw-dropping display in his first game back on the court.

Josh Giddey has recorded his second triple-double for the Bulls after playing a pivotal role in a 116-111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday at Chicago.

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In what was Giddey’s first game back from an ankle injury, the Australian was involved from the very start on his way to a team-high 23 points to go with 15 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal and a block.

With it, Giddey became the first Bulls player to record multiple triple-doubles in a single season since Jimmy Butler in 2016-17, and the youngest with multiple since Michael Jordan.

🚨 TRIPLE-DOUBLE GIDDEY 🚨

Josh Giddey becomes the first Bulls player to record multiple triple-doubles in a single season since Jimmy Butler in 2016-17. pic.twitter.com/fmqQR3pE3E

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 29, 2024

JOSH GIDDEY IN THE CLUTCH. @CHSN__ | @JoshGiddeypic.twitter.com/gHkkX15pnx

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 29, 2024

Josh Giddey has his best game as a Bull so far. Huge in the clutch, filled up the stat sheet as usual with the triple double, and you gotta give him credit for playing hard on defense down the stretch. Very good game for him, especially coming off an injury.

— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) December 29, 2024

Giddey was particularly physical in crashing the glass and fighting for rebounds and while he was putting his stamp on the game with his playmaking, as is usually the case, it was particularly pleasing to see him also making an impact on the defensive end.

That was especially true down the stretch as Giddey had two consecutive contests on Khris Middleton, forcing tough shots with the Bucks forward making one of two attempts.

“Josh has got length so just trying not to foul him and trying to make him shoot over him was what we hoped to,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said of Giddey’s efforts on Middleton.

“He made a couple in the lane and he’s hard to handle because he’s got size and he can get it off but I thought Josh really competed and battled defensively.”

The execution wasn’t always perfect but the effort was certainly there from Giddey, who had a clutch, go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of the game and then backed it up with another strong defensive possession to help force a turnover that led to a Patrick Williams bucket on the other end.

That shot put Chicago up 111-108 inside the final 50 seconds before a Brook Lopez triple tied the game, but Coby White, who had 22 points in the win, put the Bulls back ahead 113-111 before Giddey hustled for another key defensive rebound to help seal the win.

Easily Josh Giddey’s best game as a Bull

— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) December 29, 2024

Josh Giddey is the youngest Bulls player since MJ to record multiple career triple-doubles. pic.twitter.com/HknNhogDlI

— Real Sports (@realapp_) December 29, 2024

The Bucks fouled Giddey, who made both free throws to extend the lead out to 115-111. Lopez then missed his next 3-point attempt and another Zach LaVine free throw was enough to see Chicago home.

It was particularly telling that Giddey was playing in the final minutes of the game, having previously not been trusted in clutch situations due to his issues on defence.

On Sunday, however, Giddey gave Donovan no choice but to play him and the Australian repaid the Bulls coach with a few big plays to secure the win.

“I’ve seen growth in that area and I’ve seen competitiveness in that area,” Donovan said of Giddey’s development on the defensive end.

“He’s got size, he’s got length and he’s got good feet. I think the biggest thing is how he can navigate screening actions and I think he fought through a lot. I thought he fought on post-ups.

“He’s capable but he’s got to do it consistently… when you point out things to him, he realises areas (he needs to improve). He enjoys watching film, he wants to find ways to get better. He’s been willing to grow in that area and I’ve seen significant progress.”

Giddey was on a tear against the Bucks. (Photo by Michael Reaves / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Giddey told Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson in his post-game interview that it was “good to be in there” late in the fourth quarter, adding that his previously injured ankle felt “great”.

“In this environment you guys (the crowd) were unbelievable and we feed off this energy. Not just myself but the rest of the guys that finished that game,” added Giddey.

“I thought we executed really well down the stretch. We were composed, we were poised and that’s a really good team. That’s an experienced team that has won a championship. They know how to close out games… that was a much-needed win.”

It was a huge result for the Bulls, coming off a 141-133 loss to the Hawks which saw them cough up 50 points in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back defeats of 21 and 25 points to the Bucks and Celtics preceded that result.

ELSEWHERE...

The NBA has suspended Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall for four games and Phoenix Suns centre Jusuf Nurkic for three games for their roles in an on-court brawl.

Dallas forward P.J. Washington copped a one-game and all of the suspensions handed down on Sunday are without pay.

Nurkic and Marshall came to blows and were ejected during the Mavericks’ 98-89 win at Footprint Center.

Things came to a head early in the third quarter when Nurkic was called for an offensive foul, sending the Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford to the floor inside the paint.

After a few moments, Nurkic and Marshall converged, with the former slapping Marshall on the noggin before Marshall punched his opponent up high.

P.J. Washington also shoved Nurkic in the middle of all this, sending him tumbling back near mid-court.

Things got out of hand. Chris Coduto/Getty Images/AFP

Officials then stepped in to prevent the teams from doing any further damage.

When all was said and done, all three players were ejected from the contest and Suns coach Mike Budenholzer was left unimpressed.

“I think that level of altercation is not good for our team,” he said after the game.

“It’s not good for anybody individually, it’s not good for our league.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd saw it a different way, saying he was happy with how his players protected themselves.

“They were protecting each other. That’s what that was,” Kidd said, according to the Dallas Morning News.

“Emotions can get high. For our guys to protect each other, we talk about it and it was displayed tonight.”

Suns rookie Ryan Dunn told reporters after the game that Nurkic and Marshall were talking with one another after the original offence foul before things got physical.

“I think it was just the heat of the moment, they were chipping back and forth,” Dunn said. “Heat of the moment we’re here for Nurk.”

Dunn clarified why he was in de-escalation mode and not trying to add to the fray.

“I’m a rookie, I don’t have enough money to be getting fined $5,000,” he said with a laugh. “I can’t throw a punch, but just trying to de-escalate it.”

Portions of this article were originally published at the New York Post and were republished with permission.

EMBIID COPS HUGE FINE

Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid was fined $120,000 AUD by the NBA on Friday for making “obscene gestures on the playing court” in the Sixers’ 118-114 victory over the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day.

The league said in a statement the incidents occurred in the first half of the 76ers’ victory in Boston, in which Embiid scored 27 points with nine rebounds.

Embiid celebrated a layup in the first half with the “DX crotch chop” thrusting gesture he has adopted from professional wrestling and been fined for in the past.

He had another gesture for Boston fans after a three-pointer shortly before halftime.

The 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player has appeared in just nine games this season because of injuries -- the latest a sinus fracture that has him playing in a protective mask -- and a three-game suspension for a physical altercation with a journalist.

Embiid had another injury scare before Wednesday’s game, falling over the security rope at the perimeter of the court during warm-ups and grabbing his right ankle.

He appeared untroubled during the game, but was listed as “questionable” for Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz with the sinus fracture and a left foot sprain.

Originally published as ‘First since MJ’: Josh Giddey goes nuclear in first game back