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Josh Giddey ensured his former NBL team’s dream of back-to-back wins over NBA opposition was snuffed out quickly as the Thunder beat Adelaide by 33 points.
The sharp-shooting 36ers had notched a historic win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday (AEST) to catapult the Australian league – and their talented roster – onto the world stage.
But up against Australian star Giddey, who played a season with Adelaide before his own historic debut NBA season, they were quickly brought back to earth.
A 35-16 first quarter took the wind out of the contest that finished 131-98 on Friday. Giddey finished with 10 points, five rebounds and six assists in 20 minutes.
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Adelaide imports Craig Randall (27 points, eight assists), Robert Franks (20 points) and Antonius Cleveland (19 points) led the visitors as they now switch focus to the domestic league.
Elsewhere Ben Simmons (four points, 10 rebounds and four assists) took just three shots and committed six turnovers, in Brooklyn’s 109-80 loss to Miami.
Three of those turnovers came in the first quarter before Simmons had managed a single assist, the Heat defence anticipating a pass from the Australian who has faced intense criticism over his reluctance to shoot.
(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
One day after punching teammate Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has apologised to the team for his actions.
Green expressed his sorrow for the incident and then departed the facility as the defending NBA champion Warriors practised without him.
“Everybody’s fine. Jordan practised today. Draymond didn’t,” Golden State general manager Bob Myers told reporters. “Look, it’s the NBA. Professional sports. These things happen. Nobody likes it, we don’t condone it, but it happened.
“Draymond apologised to the team this morning. Jordan was there in the room, I was in the room, the team, the coaches, players. And we heard that.”
Still to be determined is how Green will be disciplined for the incident. Myers said he didn’t think the punishment would include missing any games.
“As far as any suspension, punishment, fine, we’re gonna handle that internally,” Myers said. “I understand you might have questions on that, but that’s gonna be an internal process.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he expects Green to return to the team on Saturday. The club has Friday off.
Kerr said there was high energy during Thursday’s practice. “There’s been a great vibe,” Kerr said. “We’ve had a hell of a camp. You have bumps in the road and you deal with it.”
The incident between Green and Poole occurred during Wednesday’s practice. According to reports, Green forcefully struck Poole after the two came chest-to-chest during a heated exchange. The pair were then separated quickly and the Warriors halted practice after the skirmish.
Green, 32, a four-time All-Star, is entering his 11th season in the league, all with the Warriors. He’s a seven-time All-Defensive selection with career averages of 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
Poole, 23, is entering his fourth season after the Warriors selected him No.28 overall in the 2019 draft. He broke out last season, averaging 18.5 points per game in 76 contests (51 starts).
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