Dyson Daniels was inauspicious within the Atlanta Hawks’ loss to an Japanese Convention energy; on the identical day his famous person teammate was on the centre of a bombshell commerce revelation.
The Australian guard failed to claim himself because the travelling Hawks fell to the Toronto Raptors 118-100 for the second time in three days.
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Daniels made simply 4 of 13 shot makes an attempt for 11 factors, with six rebounds and three assists. He was a internet -24 in his 38 minutes performed.
Early within the first quarter, Daniels made considered one of his favourites photographs — a operating floater within the lane — to open his scoring account for the evening, however to name it a torrid night for the Aussie thereafter could be an understatement.
Whereas he’d progressively upped his scoring within the first half of this season from 7.5 factors per sport in October to fifteen.5 early in January, Daniels was occasionally concerned on offence because the Hawks shortly fell behind the East four-seed Raptors.
The defensive-minded guard had two private fouls by early within the second quarter, and whereas he returned late within the half, he did not have a big affect on the competition.
In 17 first-half minutes, Daniels had simply two factors on 1-6 capturing with two rebounds and was a -22 in his time on the courtroom.
The Bendigo native was barely sighted within the third quarter however made two photographs from shut vary early within the ultimate interval to take his then-tally to seven factors.
The overwhelming majority of Daniels’ photographs come from contained in the three-point arc — described by Hawks broadcast analyst Brian Oliver as “a little bit reluctant to shoot the three” — having missed his previous 15 three-point makes an attempt.
With a tad over 4 minutes left within the sport, Daniels spun impressively to lose his defender and rating the layup to get the Hawks inside eight factors. It was his ultimate make of the sport.
In a rarity, the defensive menace didn’t document a steal. Daniels was the runaway NBA steals chief final season.
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The Hawks at the moment are 2-9 of their previous 11 video games, and the end result comes as Trae Younger, who missed the sport with a quad contusion, was engulfed in commerce reviews on Tuesday.
ESPN insiders Marc Stein and Shams Charania each detailed that Younger’s administration had been working with Atlanta on arranging a commerce for the four-time All-Star.
In eight seasons as a Hawk, Younger has helped lead the franchise to a few playoff appearances, together with a dream run to the East finals in 2021.
However amidst the emergence of 24-year-old ahead Jalen Johnson and chronic defensive liabilities, Younger has change into expendable within the Peachtree State.
And whereas it was reported by Marc Stein that the Washington Wizards have emerged as a “professional vacation spot” for the long-range shooter, senior reporter at The Athletic Sam Amick says the Sacramento Kings have “no real interest in a Younger deal”.
“That has been the Kings’ stance for fairly a while now – even with rumblings a few Younger-for-Zach LaVine swap – and I’m informed it stays unchanged,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
And whereas Stein and Charania’s reporting hints at an urgency round dealing Younger, Amick writes there’s no assure a Younger-Atlanta divorce is imminent.
“Within the absence of readability relating to professional commerce suitors for Younger, and with league sources indicating that his market was broadly thought of minimal, it remained fully attainable the Hawks should resolve his future within the summertime,” he wrote.
NBA’S BEST SUDDENLY IN CONCERNING HOLE — with AFP
The reigning champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder all of the sudden look beatable — and susceptible.
The Thunder have misplaced 4 of their previous eight video games, and the latest of that stretch got here on Tuesday in totally disenchanting style; falling 124-97 at dwelling to the lowly Charlotte Hornets.
A 34-17 second quarter paved the best way for the 13-23 Hornets to upstage the 30-7 hosts, led by 28 factors and 7 threes from Brandon Miller and 23 factors from excellent rookie Kon Knueppel.
The Hornets, who grabbed 52 rebounds to the Thunder’s 33 and held a 23-13 edge in second-chance factors.
Even 20 Charlotte turnovers, resulting in 26 Thunder factors, couldn’t assist Oklahoma Metropolis, who by no means led after the opening minutes and linked on simply 36.6 p.c of their photographs from the sector.
Reigning Most Worthwhile Participant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to simply 21 on an inefficient 7-21 discipline purpose capturing and a internet -20 in half-hour.
Oklahoma Metropolis stays in clear possession of the Western Convention no.1 seed however at the moment are solely 4 video games forward of the San Antonio Spurs — who’re 3-0 towards the rival Thunder this season.
It means OKC’s streak of 24 victories towards Japanese Convention foes got here to an finish.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned Oklahoma Metropolis wouldn’t panic after dropping six of 12 video games since their blazing 24-1 begin to the season.
“We’ll consider it as we do each sport, study from it after which we’ll flip the web page and attempt to be a greater group,” he mentioned after the Thunder have been held under 100 factors for the primary time this season.