Aussies in the NBA Week 14. Photo: @BrooklyNets, @NBA_AU/Twitter.
Aussie NBA fans were spoilt this week with many of the Aussies NBA players and their teams going head-to-head with one another. The week was capped off by Josh Giddey setting a new career high, while Patty Mills returned to San Antonio for the first time since leaving in the offseason.
Patty Mills
4 Games, 2 Wins, 14.5pts, 3.3reb, 1.5ast
Patty Mills started all four games for the Nets this week, with coach Steve Nash opting to play a three guard lineup of Mills, Kyrie Irving and James Harden in the absence of Kevin Durant. Playing mostly a catch and shoot role, Mills had another strong week behind the arc shooting 46.6 per cent.
The Nets played the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first game of the week were a poor fourth quarter cost them the game. Mills finished the game with 11 points as well as a single rebound, assist and steal.
Next Brooklyn travelled to Washington to face the Wizards. Mills played a crucial role for the Nets in their one-point win, scoring five of Brooklyn’s eight three pointers for the game to finish with 17 points as well as five rebounds.
The highlight of the week for Mills was returning to San Antonio for the first time since signing with Brooklyn in the offseason. Mills spent 10 years with the Spurs and in that time won a championship with the team in 2014.
The Spurs welcomed Mills back to San Antonio with a video tribute, showcasing the immense value and contribution he brought to the organisation and the San Antonio community.
Mills and the Nets were able to leave San Antonio with the 117 to 102 victory with Mills having nine points, four rebounds and three assists for the game.
To close out the week Mills had another 20 point outing in the team’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, putting up 21 points with five made three pointers.
Mills currently ranks second in the league with 7.7 points per game from catch and shoot opportunities and is shooting 43.8 per cent from three on catch and shoots.
Joe Ingles
4 Games, 1 Wins, 8.5pts, 3.0reb, 4.0ast
It has been a difficult few weeks for Utah small forward, Joe Ingles who missed games earlier this month with a lower back strain before being put in the league’s health and safety protocols.
In the few games Ingles played during this stretch, he struggled shooting the ball and was unable to contribute as he had earlier in the season. However, this week Ingles looked back to his old self emphasised by him earning big minutes and starting in three games.
Utah started the week by falling to the Los Angeles Lakers with Ingles finishing with nine points on 50 per cent shooting from deep. The game marked the first time in five games that Ingles had made multiple three pointers in a game.
The Jazz would go on to lose their next game against the Houston Rockets, however Ingles had his most productive game since the start of the new year. Having been injected into the starting line-up Ingles did a bit of everything, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Ingles went on to start in the Jazz’s final two games of the week, against the Detroit Pistons and Golden State Warriors. Ingles passing ability was on full display finishing with five assists in both games and hitting double digits for the second time this week in the match up with the Warriors.
Despite Ingles returning to form this week, the Jazz currently find themselves in a form slump having won only three of their last 10 games and seven games behind Western Conference leaders the Phoenix Suns.
Josh Giddey
4 Games, 0 Wins, 12.0pts, 7.8reb, 4.8ast
Josh Giddey and the Oklahoma City Thunder had a disappointing week as a team, unable to win any of their four games as they spent the week on the road.
On a personal level, it was a notable week for Giddey who dropped a career high 21 points against the Charlotte Hornets. Giddey scored his 21 points on 58.8% shooting, going 10 of 17 from the field.
Giddey also added nine rebounds and three assists to his stat line for the game. This marks the first time Giddey has scored above 20 points in his NBA career.
Earlier in the week Giddey went head-to-head with fellow Aussies, Josh Green and the Dallas Mavericks and Jock Landale and the San Antonio Spurs. The 19-year-old had a 10 point, six rebounds and five-assist performance against the Mavericks.
Against the Spurs, Giddey almost secured his second triple-double of the season with nine points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. He did however struggle shooting the ball going four of 16 from the field and having four turnovers.
To finish off the week and their road trip the Thunder played the Cleveland Cavaliers in a scrappy affair. Giddey had another difficult night shooting the ball, going at just 25 per cent from his 12 attempts. He finished the game with eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in the 94 to 87 loss.
Giddey continues to lead all rookies in assists with 6.2 per game and is ranked third in rebounds per game averaging 7.4.
More Basketball News
From NBL Champion to the NBA: Dean Vickerman on Jock Landale’s journey
Aussies in the NBA: Jock Landale earns first career start in Week 13
Giddey becomes youngest player ever to record triple-double in NBA
Jock Landale
4 Games, 1 Win, 2.0pts, 1.3reb, 1.0ast
Jock Landale continued to contribute where he could this week despite the limited minutes he was given as the Spurs battled it out with some of the top teams in the league.
Landale played the most minutes this week in the Spurs opening game against the Phoenix Suns, where he earned 18 minutes. Landale was able to show he has a complete game, impacting the game in multiple ways to finish with five points, four rebounds and four assists.
In San Antonio’s remaining three games Landale saw his minutes drop as they went head-to-head with his fellow Boomers teammates and their respective teams.
First they played Josh Giddey and the Oklahoma City Thunder where they won 118 to 96. Landale only managed one rebound and one block in his seven minutes of playing time.
Next the Spurs played Patty Mills and the Brooklyn Nets, where Landale only got five minutes on the court, finishing with four points on perfect shooting from the floor.
Lastly, they meet Matisse Thybulle’s’ Philadelphia 76ers which they lost 115 to 109, with Landale making little contribution finishing with just one rebound for the game.
Josh Green
4 Games, 3 Wins, 3.8pts, 0.8reb, 1.3ast
Josh Green and the Mavericks continued their winning ways this week starting with a 104-102 win over Josh Giddey and the Thunder. Green got 18 minutes of playing time, however only scored four points along with an assist and steal.
Next the Mavericks would host the Toronto Raptors where Green saw his minutes reduce, only playing seven minutes, however had his highest scoring output for the week with five points.
Dallas biggest test came when they went head-to-head with Western Conference leaders the Phoenix Suns in their sole loss of the week. Green was unable to contribute much scoring just the one basket in his 11 minutes of playing time.
To finish off the week the Mavericks returned to the winner’s circle blowing out the red hot Memphis Grizzlies by 15 points. Green scored four points for the game and had two assists, but it was his defensive ability which was the shining light from the game grabbing two steals.
Aussie defensive gun Matisse Thybulle did not play any games this week for the Philadelphia 76ers, out with a right shoulder sprain.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
About Author
