Daniels, Landale soar as Hawks claw out Nets win

• ‍Rocco Zikarsky back with Timberwolves as Rudy Gobert suspended‍
• Luka Dončić brands Josh Green toughest defender
• Complete guide to every Aussie in the NBA in 2025-26

NBA Scores: Brooklyn Nets 104 Atlanta Hawks 115

Atlanta (28–31) │ Brooklyn (15–41)
State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA
February 23, 2026 (AEDT)

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 32–30 │ 28–26 │ 29–31 │ 26–17
• Largest Lead: Hawks – 13 points
• Game Flow: Atlanta edged the first half, absorbed a third-quarter push and controlled the fourth behind rebounding and interior scoring.

Atlanta defeated Brooklyn by 11 points at home, winning the rebound battle 52–34 and closing with a 26–17 fourth quarter.

Australian guard Dyson Daniels delivered another all around performance at the point guard spot. In 33 minutes, the Australian Boomers guard scored seven points on 3-from-8 shooting but controlled multiple phases of the contest. He pulled down 10 rebounds, dished eight assists and recorded three steals without committing a turnover.

Daniels’ impact extended beyond scoring. His +11 plus-minus reflected Atlanta’s defensive stability when he was on the floor, particularly in the fourth quarter as the Hawks limited Brooklyn to 17 points.

Off the bench, Australian centre Jock Landale provided offensive punch. Landale scored 17 points in 16 minutes on 6-from-11 shooting, knocking down 3-from-3 from three and converting both free throws. He added six rebounds and a block, giving Atlanta spacing and physicality in second-unit rotations. Landale’s third-quarter stretch, where he scored eight points in a four-minute window, halted Brooklyn’s momentum.

Atlanta was led by Jalen Johnson, who recorded 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 17 points and six assists. CJ McCollum contributed 16 points and eight rebounds.

For Brooklyn, Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 points and Nic Claxton added 15 points and eight rebounds, but the Nets struggled on the glass and were outscored in second-chance opportunities.

Atlanta’s rebounding dominance and defensive activity in the final period secured the result.

By the Numbers

Atlanta – FG: 48% │ 3PT: 39% │ FT: 86% │ REB: 52 │ AST: 28 │ TOV: 15
Brooklyn – FG: 45% │ 3PT: 35% │ FT: 73% │ REB: 34 │ AST: 29 │ TOV: 13

🇦🇺 Box Scores

Dyson Daniels – 33 MIN │ 7 PTS │ 3/8 FG │ 0/2 3PT │ 1/2 FT │ 10 REB │ 8 AST │ 3 STL │ 0 BLK │ +11

Jock Landale – 16 MIN │ 17 PTS │ 6/11 FG │ 3/3 3PT │ 2/2 FT │ 6 REB │ 1 AST │ 1 STL │ 1 BLK │ -6

NBA Scores: Cleveland Cavaliers 113 Oklahoma City Thunder 121

Oklahoma City (44–14) │ Cleveland (36–22)
Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
February 23, 2026 (AEDT)

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 40–25 │ 24–30 │ 25–31 │ 32–27
• Largest Lead: Thunder – 17 points
• Game Flow: Oklahoma City surged in the first quarter and maintained control despite Cleveland’s third-term response.

Oklahoma City defeated Cleveland by eight points at home, opening with a 40-point first quarter and holding off a late Cavaliers push.

For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden each scored 20 points, while Jarrett Allen recorded 11 points and 13 rebounds. The Cavaliers shot 48% from the field but committed 17 turnovers.

Australian guard Tyrese Proctor was available but did not play (DNP – Coach’s Decision).

The Thunder shot 51% from three-point range (21-from-41) and generated 32 assists. Isaiah Joe led Oklahoma City with 22 points, hitting 6-from-11 from three, while Chet Holmgren added 17 points and 15 rebounds. Cason Wallace contributed 20 points and 10 assists.

Cleveland trimmed the deficit to single digits in the third quarter, but Oklahoma City responded with perimeter shooting in the final period to secure the result.

By the Numbers

Oklahoma City – FG: 49% │ 3PT: 51% │ FT: 64% │ REB: 44 │ AST: 32 │ TOV: 16
Cleveland – FG: 48% │ 3PT: 33% │ FT: 74% │ REB: 44 │ AST: 28 │ TOV: 17

🇦🇺 Box Scores

Tyrese Proctor – DNP – Coach’s Decision

NBA Scores: Charlotte Hornets 129 Washington Wizards 112

Charlotte (27–31) │ Washington (16–40)
Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
February 23, 2026 (AEDT)

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 38–37 │ 23–19 │ 44–28 │ 24–28
• Largest Lead: Hornets – 21 points
• Game Flow: Charlotte controlled the third quarter with a 44-point burst and shot 54% from three.

Charlotte defeated Washington by 17 points on the road, knocking down 25-from-46 (54%) from beyond the arc and generating 53 rebounds.

Australian wing Josh Green delivered an efficient bench performance in 23 minutes. Green scored 12 points on 4-from-6 shooting, connecting on 2-from-4 from three and converting 2-from-2 at the free-throw line. He added four rebounds and two steals while finishing +10. Green’s activity defensively and quick decision-making in transition supported Charlotte’s decisive third-quarter run.

The Hornets were led by LaMelo Ball, who scored 37 points on 12-from-20 shooting, including 10-from-15 from three. Kon Knueppel added 28 points and seven rebounds, while Brandon Miller contributed 22 points.

Washington received 17 points from Bilal Coulibaly and 16 from Jaden Hardy, but the Wizards were outscored 44–28 in the third quarter and struggled to contain Charlotte’s perimeter movement.

Charlotte’s shot-making separation in the third period proved decisive as they extended a narrow halftime margin into a comfortable lead.

By the Numbers

Charlotte – FG: 49% │ 3PT: 54% │ FT: 72% │ REB: 53 │ AST: 27 │ TOV: 12
Washington – FG: 49% │ 3PT: 43% │ FT: 71% │ REB: 37 │ AST: 24 │ TOV: 11

🇦🇺 Box Score

Josh Green – 23 MIN │ 12 PTS │ 4/6 FG │ 2/4 3PT │ 2/2 FT │ 4 REB │ 1 AST │ 2 STL │ 0 BLK │ +10

NBA Scores: Philadelphia 76ers 135 Minnesota Timberwolves 108

Philadelphia (31–26) │ Minnesota (35–23)
Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
February 23, 2026 (AEDT)

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 35–26 │ 33–32 │ 26–20 │ 41–30
• Largest Lead: 76ers – 27 points
• Game Flow: Philadelphia controlled tempo early and closed with a 41-point fourth quarter.

Philadelphia defeated Minnesota by 27 points on the road, shooting 52% from the field and 21-from-37 (57%) from three.

Australian centre Rocco Zikarsky logged his first four minutes off the bench for Minnesota when the game was over.

Veteran forward Joe Ingles also saw limited action, playing four minutes.

Minnesota was led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 28 points with nine rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels added 19 and Julius Randle contributed 18. The Timberwolves shot 48% from the field but were outscored 41–30 in the final quarter.

Philadelphia’s offence was driven by Tyrese Maxey, who scored 39 points on 16-from-28 shooting. VJ Edgecombe added 24 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 18. The 76ers generated 31 assists and limited turnovers to 10.

Philadelphia’s perimeter efficiency and fourth-quarter scoring burst created separation late.

By the Numbers

Philadelphia – FG: 52% │ 3PT: 57% │ FT: 67% │ REB: 39 │ AST: 31 │ TOV: 10
Minnesota – FG: 48% │ 3PT: 30% │ FT: 83% │ REB: 39 │ AST: 22 │ TOV: 20

🇦🇺 Box Scores

Rocco Zikarsky – 4 MIN │ 0 PTS │ 0/0 FG │ 0/0 3PT │ 0/0 FT │ 1 REB │ 0 AST │ 0 STL │ 0 BLK │ -2

Joe Ingles – 4 MIN │ 0 PTS │ 0/0 FG │ 0/0 3PT │ 0/0 FT │ 0 REB │ 1 AST │ 0 STL │ 0 BLK │ -2

NBA Scores: New York Knicks 105 Chicago Bulls 99

New York (37–21) │ Chicago (24–34)
United Center – Chicago, IL
February 23, 2026 (AEDT)

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 25–27 │ 27–26 │ 31–25 │ 22–21
• Largest Lead: Knicks – 9 points
• Game Flow: Chicago led narrowly early before New York controlled the third quarter and closed at the line.

New York defeated Chicago by six points, winning the third period 31–25 and limiting the Bulls to 40% shooting overall.

Australian guard Josh Giddey started and played 23 minutes, finishing with six points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals. He shot 2-from-10 from the field and 0-from-3 from three, adding 2-from-3 from the free-throw line.

Giddey operated as a secondary facilitator, initiating half-court sets and finding cutters out of high pick-and-roll action. He recorded multiple early assists in transition and applied backcourt pressure defensively, contributing two steals. Chicago was outscored by 14 during his minutes.

The Bulls received 15 points from Matas Buzelis and 12 each from Jalen Smith and Isaac Okoro, but shot 35% from three (16-from-46) and committed 17 turnovers.

New York was led by Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 19 points and nine assists. The Knicks secured 50 rebounds and generated 27 assists.

Chicago narrowed the margin in the fourth quarter but could not overcome New York’s third-period separation.

By the Numbers

New York – FG: 45% │ 3PT: 36% │ FT: 67% │ REB: 50 │ AST: 27 │ TOV: 13
Chicago – FG: 40% │ 3PT: 35% │ FT: 71% │ REB: 50 │ AST: 24 │ TOV: 17

🇦🇺 Box Score

Josh Giddey – 23 MIN │ 6 PTS │ 2/10 FG │ 0/3 3PT │ 2/3 FT │ 2 REB │ 6 AST │ 2 STL │ 0 BLK │ -14