Josh Giddey shows improved defense, Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics, Dyson Daniels, Josh Green, stats, highlights, video, breaking news

The Chicago Bulls are eliminated from NBA Cup promotion after losing 138-129 to the reigning champion Boston Celtics, but Josh Giddey showed noticeable improvement in a key part of his game.

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It wasn’t a big score for the 1.90 meter tall general on Saturday. He finished Saturday with four points on 2-6 shooting, but again, it was his support and vision as a passer that drew plaudits, dishing out a game-high nine assists to go with eight rebounds and a plus-14 overall rating.

But Giddey’s defense also impressed against the stealthy Celtics, recording three steals and playing solidly on offense.

“Giddey is up to nine assists and eight rebounds and is playing one of the best defenses of his season so far,” said the veteran Bulls reporter KC Johnson is listed at X during the competition.

But unfortunately for the fourth-year guard, he was once again not part of head coach Billy Donovan’s squad to close out the close game despite his double success – continuing the Australian’s trend of erratic rotations in the second half.

Giddey played a total of 24 minutes; Chicago’s fewest starters and eight fewer than Ayo Dosunmu’s next-fewest 32 minutes.

Instead, veteran guard Lonzo Ball, who recently returned from a wrist injury, played 22 minutes, including the crucial portion of the contest, and recorded two points, five assists and two steals.

Johnson called The development was “unexpected” as Giddey was on the bench for the final 8:43 minutes of the nine-point loss.

Giddey’s defensive deficiencies have been a point of contention as the talented ballplayer seeks a long-term contract at the end of the season, but he was a force against a strong Celtics unit.

Boston superstar and MVP candidate Jayson Tatum dropped 35 points on an extremely efficient 12-18 shooting from the field and also added 14 rebounds and five assists to his tally.

Earlier on NBA Cup Saturday, 24-year-old Australian guard Josh Green initiated a stunning sequence in the Charlotte Hornets’ loss to the New York Knicks, scoring four points in a matter of seconds at the end of the first half.

Green made a pull-up jumper with 1.1 seconds left before stealing the ball on the ensuing inbound pass and taking another shot while turning around.

The Hornets fell behind by a point, with Sydney native Green scoring 15 points on 6-12 shooting.

In Atlanta, Dyson Daniels’ Hawks won back-to-back victories over the Cleveland Cavaliers and secured promotion to the NBA Cup with a 16-point victory.

Guard Daniels scored seven points on 3-10 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block – a plus-10 total.