Johnny Furphy to Boom as Kyrie Irving erupts for 35

• Kyrie Irving had 35 points and nine assists as Dallas beat unbeaten Houston
• Johnny Furphy was assigned to the G League in his ACL recovery
• Josh Giddey scored a season-high 13 in Chicago's fourth straight loss

Melbourne-born NBA superstar Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 35 points, 26 of them after half-time, as the Dallas Mavericks came from 11 down to hand the Houston Rockets their first loss of the season 116-111 on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT).

Johnny Furphy took a step in his ACL recovery when the Indiana Pacers assigned him to their G League side, Josh Giddey had a season-high 13 points as the Chicago Bulls lost to the Boston Celtics, and Matisse Thybulle had 10 points and three steals as the Los Angeles Lakers let a 25-point lead go against the Golden State Warriors.

Games played Friday, October 30 US time, Saturday, October 31 AEDT. All times AEDT. Every Australian is on our Aussies in the NBA hub.

Dallas Mavericks 116 Houston Rockets 111 (Final)

Kyrie Irving's 16-point fourth quarter hands Rockets first loss at American Airlines Center on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT)

Kyrie Irving, who still hasn't ruled out making a run at the Australian Boomers, poured in a season-high 35 points with a season-high nine assists as the Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 116-111 at American Airlines Center on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT), in an NBA Cup group game. He shot 12-from-19 (5-from-8 from three) and 6-from-6 from the line, with four rebounds and two turnovers in 35 minutes, and finished plus-4. Irving represents the United States.

He had nine points as Dallas trailed 51-44 at half-time, then scored the Mavericks' first eight points of the third quarter, including back-to-back 25-foot threes. Houston still led by 11 (84-73) late in the quarter and by eight at the last change.

Irving scored 16 in the fourth. A 29-foot pull-up cut Houston's lead to 86-85, and a 28-foot three put Dallas 91-88 up with 7:01 left. With the game tied at 100-100, his 16-foot pull-up from Cooper Flagg put the Mavericks ahead for good with 2:08 left, and he then set up Flagg's floater for 104-100. His four free throws in the last 6.2 seconds closed it out, and the Associated Press reported that his 6-from-6 night took his run of made free throws to 54, the longest active streak in the NBA.

Flagg scored 33 with nine rebounds and six assists, and Daniel Gafford added 18 for the 4-2 Mavericks. Kevin Durant scored 28 and Jabari Smith Jr. 22 for the 5-1 Rockets.

Next: Sacramento Kings at Dallas Mavericks, Tuesday, November 3, 12:00pm AEDT.

Boston Celtics 125 Chicago Bulls 111 (Final)

Josh Giddey's season-high 13 can't stop Bulls' fourth straight loss at TD Garden on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT)

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey scored a season-high 13 points, but the Bulls lost 125-111 to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT), their fourth straight loss. He shot 4-from-8 (2-from-5 from three) and 3-from-4 from the line, with five assists, four rebounds and four turnovers in 25 minutes as a starter, and finished plus-2.

Boston led 44-25 at quarter-time and by 32 (76-44) late in the second quarter, a quarter in which Giddey turned it over twice in 19 seconds. He had two points at half-time and scored 11 after it, setting up Caleb Wilson's 22-footer early in the third before a layup and a 26-foot three. He hit another three from Norman Powell early in the fourth, set up two Powell layups, and went to the bench for good with 3:18 left and Chicago 118-98 down.

The Bulls also lost 134-99 at TD Garden on Tuesday, October 27 (AEDT). Payton Pritchard scored 30 and Jayson Tatum 26 for the 4-1 Celtics. Wilson scored 23 and Powell 16 for the 1-5 Bulls.

Next: Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, November 3, 11:30am AEDT.

Golden State Warriors 112 Los Angeles Lakers 95 (Final)

Matisse Thybulle's three steals not enough as Lakers lose 25-point lead at Chase Center on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Matisse Thybulle had 10 points and three steals, but the Lakers lost 112-95 to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT) after leading by 25. He shot 2-from-6 (1-from-3 from three) and 5-from-5 from the line, with three rebounds (two offensive), a turnover and four fouls in 28 minutes as a starter, and finished minus-1.

He had two steals in the first 2:12, against Stephen Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg, and a 24-foot three from Luka Doncic made it 17-5. The Lakers led 38-15 at quarter-time and 40-15 early in the second, but Golden State won that quarter 38-15 to level at 53-53 by half-time.

The Warriors went ahead for good at 82-80 with 51.1 seconds left in the third on Brandin Podziemski's three. Golden State led by 17 at 98-81 with 7:35 left. Thybulle made three free throws for 101-89 and a layup from Quentin Grimes for 104-91, but the Lakers got no closer than 12.

Curry scored 31 and Podziemski 21 for the 3-3 Warriors. Doncic scored 37 and Austin Reaves 21 for the 4-2 Lakers.

Next: Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Lakers, Monday, November 2, 1:00pm AEDT.

Miami Heat 145 Indiana Pacers 125 (Final)

Johnny Furphy assigned to G League Boom as Pacers lose at Kaseya Center on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT)

Indiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy did not play in the 145-125 loss to the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Saturday, October 31 (AEDT), but the club assigned him and T.J. McConnell to the Noblesville Boom, its G League side, earlier that morning (AEDT). The Indianapolis Star called the move technically a demotion but a sign of progress, with neither player having appeared in a game this season, and said it gives them on-floor work during the Boom's training camp.

Furphy has been out since February with an ACL tear. A source told the Indianapolis Star he has been cleared for "very limited" live play, is still in the early stages of his recovery plan, and is not close to five-on-five full-court work.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists for the 2-4 Heat. Quenton Jackson scored 24 and Andrew Nembhard 22 for the 2-4 Pacers.

Next: Brooklyn Nets at Indiana Pacers, Monday, November 2, 9:00am AEDT.