Aussies Abroad: Giddey creates triple-double history for Bulls

Josh Giddey's hopes of featuring in the NBA post-season appear to be diminishing by the game after his new-look Chicago outfit suffered their 13th loss in 15 outings.

Despite listed as questionable for the clash in Sacramento, the Australian suited up and started in the Bulls' 126-110 defeat to the Western Conference's bottom-placed Kings.

And amazingly, the 23-year-old star guard recorded a triple-double, the 27th of his NBA career and ninth this season, registering 15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

It was Giddey's 16th triple-double in Chicago colours, passing Scottie Pippen and now trailing only Bulls legend Michael Jordan (30).

Giddey has some work to do though to catch Sacramento's Russell Westbrook, who tallied 23 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his NBA-record 208th career triple-double.

Chicago (26-38) remain two places adrift of the Eastern Conference's last play-in spot, occupied by 10th-placed Charlotte (32-33), who went down 111-99 in Phoenix.

In the pick of Sunday's (Monday AEDT) games, San Antonio came out on top against Houston 145-120 in a battle of the West.

Victor Wembanyama had 29 points, De'Aaron Fox 20 points and 10 assists and the No.2 Spurs (47-17) won their fourth straight and 15 of 16 and dropped Houston (39-24) into fourth.

Earlier, the top team in the East suffered a season-worst fourth loss on the spin.

Detroit were beaten 121-110 in Miami by the Heat, thanks to a combined 49 points from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

Sixth-placed Miami (36-29) have now won five straight, while the Pistons dropped to 45-18.

Boston closed the gap on Detroit to two-and-a-half games thanks to a 109-98 win at Cleveland.

Celtics power forward Jayson Tatum, playing his second game, but first on the road, since returning from a ruptured right achilles tendon scored 20 points.

"Today felt a lot more normal, just from a preparation standpoint in this league," the six-time All-Star said.

"It felt like being back in the flow again ... It's just amazing how happy I am to be back and wanting to be out there more."

In Los Angeles, Luka Doncic had 35 points and eight rebounds and the Lakers overcame LeBron James' injury absence to grind out a 110-97 victory over New York.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks (41-24), who lost for the second time in six games, and Jalen Brunson had 24 points.

The Lakers (39-25) never trailed and recorded their fourth consecutive victory.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Toronto, Orlando, New Orleans and Portland.