Two Aussies, one classic and two almost triple-doubles

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It was almost an Aussie triple-double fest as both Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels fell just short in the clash between Boomers backcourt teammates today.

Defence was optional between the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena, putting up a combined 302 points, with Giddey and Daniels both playing integral roles in the Eastern Conference nail-biter.

The meeting also marked the return of Hawks star guard Trae Young from injury, where it has to be said Atlanta looked an improved side without, especially on the defensive end.

With both teams sitting in the play-in picture and desperately needing a win, it was the Bulls who came out on top by two points to claim their third straight victory.

Giddey also went within one rebound of recording his 25th triple-double after he passed up New York Knicks legend Walt 'Clyde' Frazier just days ago into 23rd spot on the all-time triple-double list. The former Melbourne Tigers guard has six so far this season.

NBA Box Score: Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks

Josh Giddey earned bragging rights over fellow Aussie star Dyson Daniels after leading the Chicago Bulls to a 152-150 win over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.

Giddey was just one rebound away from his seventh triple-double of the season, recording 19 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. His performance included a clutch three-pointer to give the Bulls the lead in the dying stages as well as an assist to Isaac Okoro.

The 23-year-old was efficient from the field, shooting 6-from-12 and 2-from-6 from the three-point line.

He was almost matched by Daniels who had eight points, nine rebounds and nine assists in 39 minutes to almost push the Hawks towards a comeback victory. Daniels also had two steals in the contest.

Both Boomers backcourt stars also took care of the ball, only handing out three turnovers between them during the game.

The win puts Chicago in 10th in the Eastern Conference at 12-15 while Atlanta sit ninth at 15-14 but rumours will continue to swirl around the future of Trae Young heading into the trade period.

Giddey and Daniels are now worth a combined $307M — the most expensive backcourt in Australian basketball history.

Giddey, 23, and Daniels, 22, both signed four-year USD $100M rookie contract extensions before the start of the 2025-26 National Basketball Association season.

Melbourne-born Giddey inked his deal with the Chicago Bulls on September 10, 2025 and Bendigo-born Daniels, today, with the Atlanta Hawks.

Both Victorians started for the Boomers at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris under then head coach Brian Goorjian.

They will be just 25 years old at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and in their primes at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

The pair bantered on Stellar magazine’s set (Giddey calls Daniels his "little brother") as they starred in their first joint fashion shoot during the off-season in Australia.

"We grew up playing against each other … [Dyson] was a Bendigo boy, from the country, and I was Melbourne, in the city, we crossed paths a lot," Giddey said.

“When we were 16, 17, we both moved to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. And then our paths have been aligned from juniors to the AIS to the NBA.

"We’re still very close.”

Daniels added: “We kind of went through every phase of life together. We’ve grown up together. I became really close with [Josh’s] family."