20
Jan
Aussies in NBA
Daniels near triple-double as Bucks escape Hawks
Australian Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 20, 2026 (AEDT) at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Todd Kirkland/NBAE via Getty Images)
Dyson Daniels powered Atlanta’s late surge, but Milwaukee survived 112–110 in a tense finish.
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NBA Scores: Milwaukee Bucks 112 Atlanta Hawks 110
The Hawks came within a possession of stealing a dramatic home win, but Milwaukee held on late after Atlanta’s furious second-half surge fell just short. After trailing by 16 early in the third quarter, the Hawks outscored the Bucks 72–58 across the final two periods, with Australian point guard Dyson Daniels at the centre of everything.
Daniels, 22, came within an assists of his second career triple double, finishing with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists in 30 minutes. He controlled tempo during Atlanta’s comeback, consistently pushing the ball after stops, finding shooters early, and crashing the glass from the guard spot. His defensive impact was just as telling, adding 3 steals and a block, often triggering Hawks transition opportunities.
But he continues to struggle for three-point land, going 0-from-2.
Atlanta leaned heavily on Daniels’ decision-making down the stretch as he shared playmaking duties with a red-hot backcourt, but Milwaukee’s early cushion proved decisive. The Bucks survived despite Atlanta’s late offensive rhythm, escaping with a two-point win and spoiling what was arguably Daniels’ most well-rounded game of the season.
For the Hawks, the narrow loss overshadowed a clear takeaway: Daniels is no longer just filling gaps — he’s driving lineups, setting structure, and flirting with triple-double territory through impact rather than volume.
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NBA Scores: Oklahoma City Thunder 136 Cleveland Cavaliers 104
Reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder blew the game open early and never looked back, overwhelming Cleveland with pace, shooting, and ball movement in a dominant 32-point road win. The Thunder scored 66 points in the first half, stretched the margin to 15 by halftime, then completely buried the game with a 45-point fourth quarter as Cleveland ran out of answers.
The Thunder were ruthless across the board. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 30 points on efficient shooting, while Chet Holmgren added 28 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks as Oklahoma City carved up Cleveland’s interior. The visitors shot 56% from the field and 49% from three, assisted on 32 baskets, and turned defensive stops into constant transition pressure.
For Cleveland, Australian guard Tyrese Proctor was one of the few positives. Coming off the bench, Proctor logged 21 minutes, finishing with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block. He showed composure against Oklahoma City’s perimeter pressure, knocked down a spot three, and remained engaged defensively despite the scoreboard getting away from the Cavaliers.
Cleveland’s starters struggled to generate efficient offence, shooting just 37% overall and 23% from three, while Oklahoma City’s depth continued to extend the margin whenever the benches were on the floor.
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NBA Scores: Dallas Mavericks @ New York Knicks
Australian Dallas Mavericks wing Dante Exum was ruled out for the 2025-26 in November 2025 with a knee injury while Melbourne-born superstar and NBA champion Kyrie Irving is still recovering from an ACL injury. His return date still has no timetable.
NBA Scores: Indiana Pacers @ Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia pulled away late to secure a nine-point home win, using a decisive fourth-quarter push to break a competitive contest that was within three points midway through the final term. The 76ers outscored Indiana 31–23 in the fourth, leaning on star power and defensive pressure to close.
For the Pacers, Australian wing Johnny Furphy started and played 14 minutes, finishing with 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Furphy made his lone field-goal attempt count, knocking down a corner three, and stayed active defensively on the wing before Indiana tightened its rotation late. While his touches were limited, he remained composed within structure and competed on the glass during his stint.
Indiana received strong production from its primary creators, but struggled to contain Philadelphia’s late surge. The 76ers were led by Joel Embiid (30 points, 9 rebounds) and Tyrese Maxey (29 points, 8 assists), who repeatedly punished breakdowns as the game tightened.
