Australian teenager Josh Giddey continues to break NBA records in his first season in the world’s best basketball league.
The 19-year-old posted his 11th double-double for the season today, breaking the record set by Russell Westbrook for most double-doubles by a rookie for Oklahoma City Thunder.
In recording 14 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for the Thunder, Giddey also became the youngest player since Lebron James to reach 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists in his first 45 NBA games.
READ MORE: Nadal’s ‘superhuman’ moment after five-hour epic
READ MORE: Nadal’s sharp response to claiming GOAT status
READ MORE: Chilling reason Olympic great feared being killed
In their first game since leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was injured, the Oklahoma City Thunder scrapped their way to a win.
Lu Dort had 18 points and the Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 98-81 on Monday night to snap a seven-game losing streak.
https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon/status/1488369570498949124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/BallySportsOK/status/1488348433215799302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/BrandonRahbar/status/1488358539106082816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 22.7 points per game, is out until after the All-Star break with a sprained right ankle sustained last Friday against Indiana. Without him, the Thunder trailed Portland by 18 in the second quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander has often been the catalyst when Oklahoma City has launched comebacks from large deficits. But this time, his teammates filled in and stepped up.
“I said when he went out that we want to be a team that solves problems with five guys,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
“That’s like internal messaging we use with the guys pretty regularly. And not having a player like Shai is a problem. You know, we would love to have Shai. And I thought tonight… we solved the problem with five guys.”
Darius Bazley scored 15 points and Giddey added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder.
CJ McCollum had 21 points and Norman Powell added 18 for Portland, which has lost four of five.
“For the most part, this is one of those games where you couldn’t make a shot,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.
“Eighty-one points — anybody in the league scores 81 points, there’s no way you’re going to have a chance to win the game. But I thought we played the right way. Just couldn’t make them.”
Portland took charge early, leading 31-19 after one quarter and 40-22 early in the second before the Thunder rallied and trailed 47-39 at the break.
“I thought early, especially, we were moving it, we were making the right play. But we were just like, not doing it in the rhythm that we’re capable of and that we needed to,” Daigneault said.
“And then we, as the game went on, we kind of got our feet wet.”
Oklahoma City started strong in the second half, and a 3-pointer by Dort cut Portland’s lead to 51-49. A basket by Derrick Favors tied the score at 51, and the Blazers called a timeout.
Ty Jerome’s 3-pointer late in the quarter put the Thunder ahead 61-59, and a steal and floater in the lane by Dort as time expired in the third gave Oklahoma City a 65-61 lead.
A behind-the-back pass from Jerome to Kenrich Williams led to a dunk that put the Thunder up 73-65. It was part of a 15-0 run that gave the Thunder an 80-65 lead and control for good.
“It wasn’t one person carrying a load, it was just a style and team orientation that allowed us to play off advantages,” Daigneault said.
“And I thought the guys did a really good job of that.”