Giddey and Daniels continue strong starts to NBL season
Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls have finished strongly to claim a 125-113 NBA win over Dyson Daniels and the Atlanta Hawks,
Both Australian stars have made strong starts to their first seasons with their new clubs after being traded by Oklahoma City and New Orleans respectively.
Giddey (13 points, six rebounds and seven assists) was one of eight Bulls players to score in double figures against the Hawks.
Defensive specialist Daniels had 16 points, eight rebounds and a game-high six steals in a clash where no player on either side scored more than 20 points.
After trailing for the majority of the game on Saturday night (Sunday AEDT), the Bulls stormed back in the second half to snap a four-game losing streak.
Atlanta outscored Chicago 37-24 in the first quarter and led by as many as 18, but the Bulls started the fourth term with a 14-3 run and never looked back.
In other action, Collin Sexton scored 23 points, Lauri Markkanen added 20 and Aussie veteran Patty Mills had a five-point cameo as the Utah Jazz held off the San Antonio Spurs 111-110, overcoming 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks from Victor Wembanyama.
Finnish star Markkanen stayed in the game after landing directly on his left hip with 2:44 remaining.
San Antonio rookie Stephon Castle had a career-high 23 points in his third NBA start, while Wembanyama shot 6 for 9 on 3-pointers.
Evan Mobley had 23 points and 16 rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell scored 22 as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for a 105-100 win over the Brooklyn Nets, becoming the 12th team in NBA history to start a season 11-0.
Darius Garland scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland, who trailed 82-68 with 35 seconds left in the third.
The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors hold the league record after winning their first 24 games. They lost to the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
Cam Johnson scored 23 points and Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas had 22 apiece for the Nets, who again rested Australian Ben Simmons.
