Dyson Daniels flashed on each ends of the ground and performed a monumental position on a rival star because the Atlanta Hawks staged an upset of the New York Knicks.
The 17-19 Hawks led by as many as 26 factors within the third interval earlier than closing out the shock 111-99 outcome in opposition to the Jap Convention two-seed at Madison Sq. Backyard.
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Australian guard Daniels scored 11 factors on an environment friendly 5-8 taking pictures from the sector, including six rebounds, eight assists and swooping for 2 steals in an equal-team-high 38 minutes of motion.
However sometimes, it was his industrious work on the defensive finish of the ground that drew plaudits from pundits.
“You must love how energetic Dyson Daniels has been on this first half. He’s been energetic on each ends of the ground,” former Hawks participant and broadcast analyst Brian Oliver stated within the second quarter.
Particularly, Daniels performed the position of chief irritant for famous person New York guard Jalen Brunson, a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Workforce member.
After Brunson dedicated an eight-second backcourt violation, the Hawks broadcast steered Daniels was having a major influence on the All-Star.
“A little bit little bit of frustration; I feel Dyson Daniels has made it tough for him with the extent of physicality,” Oliver stated.
Play-by-play caller Bob Rathbun added: “He could also be getting in his head a bit of bit.”
Atlanta led New York by 13 factors at half-time, as Daniels was on observe for a triple-double with seven factors, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
The ‘Nice Barrier Thief’ additionally hadn’t let Brunson — who has a knack for getting aggressive inside the important thing — get to the free-throw line whereas guarding him.
Daniels picked up proper the place he left off to begin the second half, making a trademark floater earlier than getting unfastened for a breakaway dunk to take his factors complete to 11 for the night time.
“Proper now, he’s doing a masterful job of working this ball membership,” Oliver stated of the Aussie within the third quarter because the Hawks opened up a 20-point lead.
The Bendigo native regularly compelled passes or powerful photographs from Brunson, staying in entrance of the diminutive guard together with his shrewd defensive instincts and point-of-attack prowess.
“Daniels has had him (Brunson) in solitary confinement tonight,” Rathbun stated.
Daniels exited for a well-deserved spell late within the third, and hilariously, Brunson transformed an and-one at Kristaps Porzingis’ expense simply seconds after the Aussie had checked out.
Brunson struggled mightily with Daniels as his main defender, however due to display actions and rotations, he labored his method to 24 factors — although it got here on an inefficient 10-24 taking pictures and a measly 1-10 clip from three-point vary.
The Knicks reduce Atlanta’s result in simply 13 early within the fourth as the house facet made its anticipated run.
In an important play, with New York inside 11 factors and three minutes remaining, Daniels secured an enormous offensive rebound off a missed shot and dished to Jalen Johnson for the and-one dunk to place the guests again up 14.
Publish-game, ahead Nickeil Alexander-Walker spoke glowingly of Daniels’ unafraid mindset.
“He’s relentless, he retains going,”
“And he’s not afraid of a matchup, he’s not afraid to, at the moment, get embarrassed and have guys rating and take it to coronary heart.
“I feel Dyson has a very good quantity of amnesia with regards to that — like ‘I don’t know what occurred’.
“He stored displaying up, and he was tenacious on the ball, and he was what we would have liked.”