Dyson hoovering up steals at league-leading pace

• Atlanta's Dyson Daniels adds three more steals to his league-leading total
• Utah's Patty Mills logs 18 minutes, scores nine points on 3-from-12 shooting
• Portland's Duop Reath has a DNP as was Minnesota's Joe Ingles

Australian guard Dyson Daniels had three steals for the 19th time of the NBA season in Atlanta's 123-115 loss (Game Centre) to the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Daniels, 21, finished with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. He is leading the league in steals per game with 3.1.

Phoenix's Bradley Beal's season-high 25 points off the bench proved to be the difference-maker. The Suns moved to 17-19 while the Hawks dropped to 19-19.

Phoenix jumped out to a 38-31 lead after the first quarter. However, the Hawks stormed back in the second, outscoring the Suns 41-30 to take a 72-68 lead into halftime. Trae Young orchestrated Atlanta's offense dishing out seven assists to go along with 14 first-half points.

The Suns' defense also tightened up in the third, holding the Hawks to just 20 point to help Phoenix take a 98-92 lead into the fourth.

The Suns' balanced scoring attack proved too much for the Hawks to handle. Six Phoenix players scored in double figures, led by Beal's 25 points on an efficient 11-from-16 shooting. Superstar Kevin Durant added 23 points, seven assists, and three blocks, while Grayson Allen continued his breakout season with 23 points on 7-from-8 shooting, including a scorching 5-from-6 from beyond the arc.

For Atlanta, Trae Young led the way with 21 points but struggled from the field, going just 6-of-15 from the field. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 points, while Clint Capela grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

The victory improves Phoenix's record to 17-19 and moves them into 12th place in the Western Conference, .5 of game outside the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, Atlanta falls to 19-19 and sits in 9th place in the Eastern Conference.

Miami Heat @ Utah Jazz

Australian point guard Patty Mills came off the bench for the Utah Jazz in their 97-92 home loss to the Miami Heat (Game Centre). Mills had nine points on 3-from 12 from the field, grabbed a rebound, had one assist and two steals. Mills has been averaging right around 15 minutes per game and 4.1 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Orlando Magic

Minnesota's Australian forward Joe Ingles was a DNP-coach's decision against his former team, the Orlando Magic. The Wolves beat the Magic 104-89 (Game Centre).

Portland Trail Blazers @ Dallas Mavericks

Portland's Australian centre Duop Reath was a DNP-coach's decision against the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas beat Portland 117-111 (Game Centre).

Australian-born superstar Kyrie Erving is out of the Mavericks line-up, injured.

Trail Blazers Australian forward Matisse Thybulle is also injured.