Down 21, Giddey's 10 assists nearly drag Chicago back

• Josh Giddey had nine points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in a 124-120 loss
• Dyson Daniels scored 18 on 8-from-11 before fouling out against unbeaten Houston
• Tyrese Proctor hit a three and had three assists as Cleveland held off Brooklyn

Australian Boomers point guard Josh Giddey had nine points, eight rebounds and a game-high 10 assists as the Chicago Bulls cut a 21-point deficit to four before losing 124-120 to the Washington Wizards, and Dyson Daniels scored 18 – without a steal – in the Atlanta Hawks' 121-114 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT).

Tyrese Proctor hit a three and had three assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving missed Dallas' loss to San Antonio with a left knee issue, and Duop Reath's Phoenix Suns play the Golden State Warriors later.

Games played Saturday, October 24 US time, Sunday, October 25 AEDT. All times AEDT.

Cleveland Cavaliers 125 Brooklyn Nets 121 (Final)

Tyrese Proctor's second-quarter stint helps Cavaliers hold off Nets at Rocket Arena on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor had five points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes off the bench as the Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 125-121 at Rocket Arena on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT). He shot 2-from-3 (1-from-2 from three), with one turnover, and finished plus-6.

He came on with 7:27 left in the second quarter and Cleveland 42-37 up, and the Cavaliers won the rest of the half 26-17 to lead 68-54. In that stretch he set up a Craig Porter Jr. three and a 25-foot Peyton Watson jumper, finished a running layup, and hit a 23-foot three with 56.4 seconds left in the half. He also set up an Evan Mobley layup early in the fourth.

Cleveland led 104-82 with 9:29 left before Brooklyn won the fourth quarter 41-29 and got within 123-121 on Michael Porter Jr.'s three with 8.1 seconds left. Sam Merrill's two free throws closed it out. Donovan Mitchell scored 22, Jarrett Allen 21 and Mobley 20 with 10 rebounds for the 1-1 Cavaliers. Porter Jr. scored 28 for the 0-2 Nets.

Next: Minnesota Timberwolves at Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, October 27, 10:00am AEDT.

Washington Wizards 124 Chicago Bulls 120 (Final)

Josh Giddey's 10 assists drive Bulls' late charge at United Center on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT)

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey had nine points, eight rebounds and a game-high 10 assists without a turnover in 30 minutes, but the Bulls lost 124-120 to the Washington Wizards at United Center on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT). He shot 3-from-7 (1-from-3 from three) and 2-from-2 from the line, added a steal and finished plus-5.

Chicago led 62-57 at half-time before Washington won the third quarter 40-20, and the Bulls were 103-82 down with 10:34 left.

Giddey came back on with 3:22 to play and Chicago 112-99 behind, then assisted four of the Bulls' six field goals in the last 1:54: a Matas Buzelis layup, a 24-foot Buzelis jumper, Norman Powell's 27-foot three that cut it to 122-118 with 3.4 seconds left, and Buddy Hield's layup with 0.2 seconds left.

Caleb Wilson had 30 points and 14 rebounds and Buzelis scored 21 for the 1-2 Bulls. Trae Young scored 25 with nine assists for the 2-1 Wizards, and Anthony Davis added 19.

Next: Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics, Tuesday, October 27, 10:30am AEDT.

San Antonio Spurs 122 Dallas Mavericks 106 (Final)

Mavericks fall to Spurs without Kyrie Irving at American Airlines Center on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT)

Melbourne-born Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving did not play as the Mavericks lost 122-106 to the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT). He was listed out (left knee injury management) on the NBA injury report.

Dallas led 87-86 late in the third quarter, then San Antonio won the fourth 30-17 and led by as many as 23. Sergio de Larrea scored 21 for the 1-2 Mavericks, who were also without Cooper Flagg (left shoulder sprain). Victor Wembanyama had 23 points and seven rebounds and Dylan Harper scored 22 for the 1-2 Spurs.

Next: Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat, Tuesday, October 27, 10:30am AEDT.

Houston Rockets 121 Atlanta Hawks 114 (Final)

Dyson Daniels scores 18 on 8-from-11 before fouling out at State Farm Arena on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels scored 18 points on 8-from-11 shooting (1-from-1 from three), with eight rebounds (four offensive), three assists and a steal in 29 minutes, but the Hawks lost 121-114 to the Houston Rockets at State Farm Arena on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT). He had one turnover, fouled out and finished minus-8.

Houston led 59-48 at half-time and 108-88 with 7:58 left. Daniels came back on at 7:15, and Atlanta closed to 117-112 with 36.5 seconds left: he hit a 26-foot three, set up two CJ McCollum baskets, one of them a three, and dunked off a Jalen Johnson assist. He stole the ball from Reed Sheppard with 32.4 seconds left, then committed his sixth foul with 18.9 seconds to go.

Jock Landale had two points (1-from-6, 0-from-4 from three), five rebounds and five turnovers in 19 minutes off the bench, and was given a double technical with Jabari Smith Jr. in the second quarter.

Johnson had 26 points, nine rebounds and 16 assists for the 2-1 Hawks. Kevin Durant scored 22 for the 3-0 Rockets, who led by as many as 20.

Next: Atlanta Hawks at Houston Rockets, Tuesday, October 27, 11:30am AEDT.

Phoenix Suns 131 Golden State Warriors 122 (Final)

Duop Reath plays a first-quarter stint as Suns beat Warriors at Mortgage Matchup Center on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT)

Phoenix Suns centre Duop Reath played three minutes off the bench as the Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 131-122 at Mortgage Matchup Center on Sunday, October 25 (AEDT). He came on with 5:41 left in the first quarter, missed his only shot, a 26-foot three, and committed a foul before being replaced at 2:31. He finished minus-4.

Phoenix led 57-54 at half-time, went ahead for good on a Khaman Maluach three with 5:32 left in the third quarter, won the quarter 45-38 and led by 16 with 6:07 to play. Devin Booker scored 43 on 17-from-25 for the 1-1 Suns. Yaxel Lendeborg had 26 points and nine rebounds, and De'Anthony Melton scored 25 off the bench for the 0-3 Warriors.

Next: Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, October 27, 11:00am AEDT.