Aussie NBA check-in: How did Josh Giddey perform in injury return?

Jake Beddard

Aussie NBA check-in: How did Josh Giddey perform in injury return? image

It was an action-packed week for a number of Australian NBA players, none more so than the returning Josh Giddey. 

The Chicago Bull had a number of impressive performances for his team after recovering from an ankle injury, but he wasn't the only Aussie to do so.

Here's how every Australian NBA player performed over the last week.

Aussie NBA Check-In: November 16-22

Josh Giddey

After a two-game injury absence which contributed to the team's losing skid, the Chicago Bulls were more than glad to welcome Josh Giddey back into the lineup against the Utah Jazz last week, although it didn't reap immediate reward.

Giddey was thrown back into the deep end upon returning from injury, forced into playing 42 minutes in a double-overtime thriller against the Jazz, although the Bulls would eventually fall short 147-150. Despite his brief absence, Giddey clearly hadn't missed a beat, posting a 26-point triple-double in the loss, as he accumulated 13 rebounds and 13 assists.

It was an action-packed week for the 23-year-old, with the Bulls playing in two back-to-backs, and five games overall. The Bulls went 3-2 over that stretch, despite Giddey not playing at his absolute best. In a one-point win against Portland, Giddey would score just nine points while turning the ball over five times. He recovered strongly though to see the week out on a high, posting another triple-double as the Bulls saw out another close win against Washington, with their star point guard leading the way with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Josh Giddey stats per game (Nov. 16-22): 5 games, 33.6 minutes, 18.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 0.8 blocks, 1.2 steals, 3.6 turnovers, 45.6 FG% (13.6 attempts), 38.9 3FG% (3.6 attempts), 75.0 FT% (6.4 attempts)

Dyson Daniels

It was a mixed week for Dyson Daniels and Atlanta, as the Hawks went 2-2 in a busy week. They would start on the road in Phoenix, as Daniels showcased his complete offensive repertoire, posting 11 points and 12 assists as well as three steals in a two-point victory over the Suns.

After two straight losses to Detroit and San Antonio, the Hawks would bounce back with an easy win over New Orleans, where Daniels would score 14 points and grab eight rebounds. But his shooting struggles, which have been a theme for most of the season, would continue, as he missed all of his four three-point attempts, and overall miss nine of his 15 field goal attempts.

Through the first 17 games of the season, Daniels has shot just 15.8 per cent from beyond the arc, something he will be hoping to fix as the season continues. 

Dyson Daniels stats per game (Nov. 16-22): 4 games, 34.3 minutes, 11.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.5 steals, 3.3 turnovers, 55.3 FG% (9.5 attempts), 0.00 3FG% (1.8 attempts)

Duop Reath

Despite a recent poor run of form for the Portland Trail Blazers, Duop Reath has continued to struggle for any consistent opportunity in interim head coach Tiago Splitter's rotation. 

Reath was left out of the lineup completely in the team's overtime loss to the lowly Dallas Mavericks, but saw the floor for 10 minutes in a 17-point loss to Phoenix, where he would knock down one triple.

He would since play only a brief role in games against Chicago and Golden State, managing just over two minutes in each contest.

Duop Reath stats per game (Nov. 16-22): 3 games, 5.0 minutes, 1.0 point

Jock Landale

An already-loss season for the Memphis Grizzlies took a positive turn over the last week, with the team going 2-1 despite the absence of stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. For both wins.

It was a slow start to the week for Landale as he recorded just four points while shooting 2-9 in a 10-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs. But he bounced back in a monster 41-point win over the Sacramento Kings, with the Australian big scoring a season-high 21 points in less than 15 minutes of action.

But the next game against Dallas, his night was cut short after less than five minutes of court time, with a neck injury seeing him leave the game early.

Jock Landale stats per game (Nov. 16-22): 3 games, 12.7 minutes, 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 54.2 FG% (8.0 attempts), 33.3 3FG% (2.0 attempts), 57.1 FT% (2.3 attempts)

Tyrese Proctor

There was scarce opportunity for Australians in Cleveland over the past week, with coach Kenny Atkinson leaving Luke Travers out of the rotation entirely, while guard Tyrese Proctor only saw the floor for 11 minutes in total.

He would play 10 minutes against Houston, hitting a pair of free throws and recording three assists in the loss to the Rockets.

Tyrese Proctor stats per game (Nov. 16-22): 2 games, 5.5 minutes, 1.0 point, 1.0 rebound, 1.5 assists

 

Joe Ingles

Veteran Australian Joe Ingles saw the floor for seven minutes in a rare appearance for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In the Wolves' blowout victory over Dallas, Ingles would make a quiet appearance, recording one assist and one steal. 

Joe Ingles stats per game (Nov. 16-22): 1 game, 7.0 minutes, 0.0 points, 1.0 assist, 1.0 steal

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