Giddey apos;s Double-double Not Enough For OKC
Josh Giddey has racked up another double-double but it was not enough to prevent Oklahoma City Thunder suffering a 123-102 road loss to a Ja Morant-inspired Memphis.
Australian second-year talent Giddey had 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal, but could have done more damage.
He shot the ball at just 31 per cent from the field as star teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 26 points for the Thunder.
"We had a chance to win it," said guard Giddey.
"We just let it kind of get out too far going into the fourth."
Morant had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the Grizzlies rode a second-half flurry to their season-best fourth straight win.
It was Morant's second triple-double of the season and seventh of his career, while Dillon Brooks (24 points) and Brandon Clarke (17) were also important.
In Brooklyn, injured Ben Simmons (calf) was sidelined and veteran guard Patty Mills rode the bench again throughout the Nets' 122-116 home win over Charlotte.
Kyrie Irving (33 points) and Kevin Durant (29) did most of the damage for the Nets, who won for the fifth time in six games, while Seth Curry added 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting.
Matthew Dellavedova did not bother the statisticians in little more than one minute of action in Sacramento's 126-113 road loss to Milwaukee, who scored a 13th consecutive victory over the Kings.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (35 points) and Jrue Holiday (31) were in hot form for the Bucks as they improved to 18-6.
Australian rookie Dyson Daniels had six points, three rebounds and a front row seat to the Zion Williamson show in New Orleans' 104-98 home win over Detroit.
Williamson had 29 points and 10 rebounds to fire the Pelicans to their fifth straight win, and 10th in 12 games.
Trey Murphy III, a 2021 first-round draft choice starting because of Brandon Ingram's left-foot injury, hit four triples and had 20 points for New Orleans.
Elsewhere, Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 10 rebounds as Toronto routed a short-handed Los Angeles team playing without LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (illness).
Julius Randle had 34 points and 17 rebounds in New York's 113-89 win over Atlanta.
D'Angelo Russell had 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and Anthony Edwards scored 26 points as Minnesota held on to beat Indiana 121-115.
Rookie Pablo Banchero scored 10 of his 23 points in overtime as Orlando beat Los Angeles 116-111 to snap a nine-game losing streak.
The Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 125-98, with Aussie Jock Landale contributing three rebounds, two assists and two points in his 14 minutes on court for pinfaves.com the losing hosts.
In Salt Lake City, rookie Simone Fontecchio made a last-second, game-winning dunk as the Utah Jazz scored five points in the final 7.8 seconds to earn an improbable 124-123 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Jordan Poole led all scorers with 36 points.
- with AP
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