20
Jan
Aussie Digest
Giddey's bad day at office, Ducas busts three threes
Featured
Alex Ducas getting minutes in garbage time for OKC Thunder
- Alex Ducas perfect from beyond the arc
- Josh Giddey has a night to forget against Portland Trail Blazers
- Ben Simmons sits out loss to Oklahoma City Thunder
Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 12-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Chicago Bulls 113-102 at the Moda Center on Monday, January 20, 2025.
It was less than a great night for Australian Boomers point guard Josh Giddey. The 21-year-old logged 29 minutes, didn't trouble the scorekeeper, had three boards, four assists, a steal, a block and two turnovers — certainly well below the high standards Giddey has set for himself.
Australian Boomers teammates Duop Reath was a DNP-coach's decision.
Portland's Scoot Henderson had 25 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals.
The Bulls came out of the gates hot, dominating the first quarter with a 34-22 lead.
The statistics tell the tale of Portland's comeback. The Blazers dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Bulls 50-36, including a 14-8 advantage on the offensive boards. This led to 19 second-chance points for Portland, compared to just nine for Chicago.
For the Bulls, this loss continues a frustrating pattern of inconsistency. Despite strong performances from LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, who contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds, Chicago struggled to maintain their early momentum.
The Bulls, meanwhile, fall to 18-25. With the trade deadline approaching, Chicago's front office will need to make some difficult decisions about the direction of the team. The inconsistent play and mounting losses may force them to consider reshaping the roster around their core pieces.
On the flipside, Reath has been the subject of trade speculation. Given he's limited minutes for the Blazers, a move would be beneficial to both he and the club.
Brooklyn Nets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Australian rookie Alex Ducas went 3-from-3 from downtown in just five minutes, finishing with a career-high nine points in the OKC Thunder's 127-101 smashing on Australian point-forward Ben Simmons' Brooklyn Nets.
Ducas also grabbed a rebound. Simmons was out because of illness.
