Grass 'Greener' now Josh back but Giddey gets W

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Finally, Josh Green is back with the Charlotte Hornets after recovering from a shoulder issue during the off-season.

Green's first game back was against Australian Boomers teammate Josh Giddey, who notched up a 26-point and 11-assist double double to help the Bulls snap their 7-game losing skid.

NBA Box Score: Chicago Bulls 129 Charlotte Hornets 126

Australians Josh Giddey and Josh Green went head to head in a high-scoring contest as the Chicago Bulls edged the Charlotte Hornets 129–126 on the road.

For Chicago, Josh Giddey delivered another complete performance. The Bulls guard finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists in 34 minutes, shooting 10-of-17 from the field, 2-of-4 from three, and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line. Giddey consistently punished Charlotte’s coverage by attacking gaps, controlling tempo late, and creating high-quality looks for teammates. His +8 plus/minus reflected his influence during decisive stretches, particularly in the fourth quarter when Chicago poured in 40 points to close out the game.

For Charlotte, Josh Green had a limited impact in a short bench role. Green logged 17 minutes, scoring two points on 1-of-2 shooting and 0-of-1 from three, while adding one assist and one steal. He finished with a –3 plus/minus, as the Hornets relied more heavily on their starters down the stretch in a tight finish.

Ultimately, Giddey’s playmaking and late-game composure proved the difference, as Chicago held on in a tight finish despite Charlotte’s balanced scoring and hot three-point shooting.

It was a timely win for the Bulls, snapping a dire seven-game losing streak. The Bulls moved to 10-14 and third in the Central Division while the Hornets dropped to 7-18.

NBA Box Score: Atlanta Hawks 115 Detroit Pistons 142

Australian point guard Dyson Daniels was one of the few bright spots for Atlanta in a tough road loss as the Hawks fell to the Detroit Pistons 142–115.

Daniels finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes, delivering a strong two-way performance despite the lopsided scoreline. He shot 6-of-10 from the field, went 6-of-8 at the free-throw line, and added five assists, one steal and one block, showing his usual impact across multiple areas. Daniels was active on the glass at both ends and consistently attacked the rim as Detroit’s defence tightened.

However, Atlanta struggled to contain the Pistons’ depth and efficiency. Detroit shot 58 percent from the field, dominated the fourth quarter 38–36, and received heavy contributions across their rotation, pulling away after a competitive first half.

While the Hawks were overwhelmed overall, Daniels’ double-double stood out as a positive in an otherwise difficult night against one of the league’s strongest home teams.

The Hawks are still above .500 at 14-12 and hold onto third in the Southeast Division.

NBA Box Score: Indiana Pacers 105 Philadelphia 76ers 115

Australian wing Johnny Furphy played just two minutes in the Indiana Pacers' 10-point loss to Philadelphia. Furphy, 22, missed both of his field goal attempts, a two and three but did have a board.

NBA Box Score: Utah Jazz 130 Memphis Grizzlies 126

Australian Boomers centre Jock Landale provided solid production off the bench, but it wasn’t enough as the Memphis Grizzlies fell 130–126 to the Utah Jazz at home.

Landale logged 27 minutes and finished with eight points and nine rebounds, giving Memphis a physical presence inside and stability on the glass during key stretches. He shot 3-of-7 from the field, knocked down 2-of-4 from three, and added one assist and one block, helping the Grizzlies stay competitive in a game that swung back and forth throughout the night.

Memphis remained within striking distance late, but Utah’s offensive firepower — led by Keyonte George’s 39 points and a strong rebounding effort from Jusuf Nurkic — proved decisive. The Jazz outscored the Grizzlies 42–33 in the third quarter, creating just enough separation to hold on despite Memphis’ push in the final term.

Landale’s energy and rebounding off the bench stood out in a narrow loss, as Memphis came up just short after a late rally.

More box scores from the National Basketball Association are here.

Aussies in the G-League

Australian big man Rocco Zikarsky delivered a productive performance off the bench, but the Iowa Wolves were overpowered by the Motor City Cruise in a 121–101 loss.

The Australian centre finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes, providing efficient scoring and a strong interior presence for Iowa. Zikarsky shot 6-of-8 from the field and knocked down 3-of-4 from three, capitalising on his size and touch to score in short stretches and keep the Wolves competitive when he was on the floor. He also added a steal and a block, ending the night with a –1 plus/minus, one of the steadier marks in an otherwise difficult team performance.

Despite Zikarsky’s impact, Iowa struggled to match Motor City’s depth and physicality. The Cruise controlled the glass 52–49, shot 47 percent from the field, and generated consistent scoring across their rotation, led by Chaz Lanier’s 27 points and Tolu Smith’s 22 points and 17 rebounds. Motor City steadily extended the margin across all four quarters, never allowing Iowa to build momentum.

For Iowa, Zikarsky’s efficient bench scoring stood out as a clear positive on a night where the Wolves were held to 34-of-75 shooting and fell behind early. His performance underlined his ability to influence games in limited minutes, even as the result slipped away.