Aussies Abroad: Proctor’s season-high topples champs

Josh Giddey has endured another tough day at the office after it began so brightly in Chicago for the beleaguered Bulls.

The hosts led San Antonio by 14 points at halftime, and then a game-high 22 points on Wednesday night (Thursday AEDT), before the Spurs stormed home to win 124-119.

Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points and Dylan Harper had 18 points, 10 assists and four steals as San Antonio won their 10th straight game after dropping their opening two.

Chicago have lost eight in a row to fall to 1-9, including 0-4 at home, with their only victory of the season against fellow Eastern Conference strugglers Milwaukee.

Jalen Smith tied his career high with 23 points for the Bulls, Nic Claxton had 17 off the bench, with Giddey tallying nine points, two rebounds and seven assists.

Fellow Australian guard Tyrese Proctor enjoyed a season-high 15 points as Cleveland beat the defending champions 115-107 in New York.

The 22-year-old drained six of his 12 shots, including three triples from eight attempts, in nearly 23 minutes of court time, and chipped in with three rebounds and one assist as the Cavaliers improved to 6-6.

James Harden scored a season-high 32 points and Donovan Mitchell added 23 for the Cavs in their first trip to Madison Square Garden since the Eastern Conference finals, when the Knicks erased a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Game 1 to win in overtime, then took Game 2 en route to a four-game sweep.

Jalen Brunson had 27 points for New York, who had their four-game winning streak snapped, while Karl-Anthony Towns registered 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, tying a franchise record with his 11th straight double-double to begin a season.

Another Aussie in Matisse Thybulle enjoyed playing his part in a 123-112 Los Angeles Lakers road win over the Bucks.

Luka Doncic scored 32 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili added 23 and Austin Reaves 18 as LA extended their winning streak to seven games to remain top of the West at 11-2.

Thybulle added eight points, five boards and an assist as Milwaukee fell to 1-11.

Boston continue to set the pace in the East.

Jayson Tatum made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 25.2 seconds remaining as the Celtics (10-2) overcame a 22-point deficit to beat Toronto 98-93, extending their winning streak to five.

Tatum scored 24 points, Derrick White had 19 and Payton Pritchard added 14, improving to 4-0 against Atlantic Division opponents.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Indiana over Washington, 114-101, and Denver held on to defeat Memphis 123-118.