Dyson with superstardom, comes up big in OT win

• Dyson Daniels goes 11-from-14, scores 23 points
• Daniels leads NBA in steals at 3.1 per game
• Atlanta secures season series against Boston 2-1

Australian guard Dyson Daniels was instrumental in Atlanta Hawks big time 119-115 overtime road win against the world champion Boston Celtics in the TD Garden on Sunday, January 19.

Daniels, 21, scored four points on two tough paint finishes in the extra period and came up with a crucial deflected loose ball with a little more than 20 seconds left in overtime with the Hawks up 116-115 turning the rest of the period into a free throw shooting contest.

It capped off an outstanding performance for the Boomers star as he delivered 23 points on 11-from-14 from the field, four rebounds, four assists and what could be adjusted to two steals once the game is reviewed.

Daniels is leading the NBA in steals per game at 3.1 (113) in 37 games. Atlanta wins the regular season match-up 2-1.

The Celtics seemed poised for another dominant home performance early on, racing out to a 33-21 lead after the first quarter behind Jaylen Brown's hot shooting. Boston's suffocating defence held Atlanta to just 36% shooting in the opening frame as they built what appeared to be a comfortable cushion.

But the resilient Hawks clawed their way back in the second quarter, outscoring Boston 31-15 to take a slim 52-48 lead into halftime.

The see-saw battle continued throughout the second half, with neither team able to pull away.

Trae Young went 10-for-23 for his 28 points to go with 11 assists, four rebounds and a couple of blocks.

Atlanta's bench proved to be the x-factor, outscoring Boston's reserves 44-22. Onyeka Okongwu was particularly impactful, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks — none bigger than his rejection of Jaylen Brown's potential game-tying layup in the final seconds of overtime.

For Boston, it was a rare off-night offensively at TD Garden. The Celtics shot just 38.5% from the field and an abysmal 28.8% from 3-point range. Brown led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds, but struggled with his efficiency, going just 9-from-27 from the floor.

Philadelphia 76ers @ Indiana Pacers

Australian forward Johnny Furphy logged a minute in the Indiana Pacers comfortable 115-102 win against the visiting 76ers. He finished with an empty box score.

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Australian forward Joe Ingles finally got some PT in the Timberwolves 124-117 loss to the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ingles, 36, played nine minutes and went 0-from-1 from the field.

Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers

Australian centre Duop Reath logged six minutes in the Trail Blazers 125-103 blow-out home loss. He went 0-from-1 but had an assist.

Australian centre Jock Landale is still out of the Houston Rockets line-up while Portland and Australian forward Matisse Thybulle is out injured.