Mixed bag for four Aussies in NBA clash

Four Australians hit the court in the Utah-Milwaukee NBA match but it was Thon Maker who shone brightest in a losing side.

Australia Day came a week late in the NBA as four of the country's basketballers featured in a clash between Utah and Milwaukee.

Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker had starting roles for the Bucks while Joe Ingles and Dante Exum had time off the bench for the Jazz.

While Maker - in just his third start - had arguably the best game of the group with 12 points, five rebounds and two sensational blocks against Utah big man Rudy Gobert, it was the Jazz who took the spoils.

The home side outclassed the Bucks at Vivant Homes Arena 104-88.

Maker may have had his moments against Gobert but he still scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, his 33rd double-double of the season for the Jazz, who also got 27 points from Gordon Hayward.

Key for the Jazz was holding Giannis Antetokounmpo to just nine points, only the second time he hasn't scored double figures all season.

Ingles and Exum only played bit parts in the win with three points apiece while Dellavedova had a quiet game with five points and seven assists for the Jazz.

Meanwhile Stephen Curry made 11 three-pointers in a haul of 39 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Charlotte Hornets 126-111.

Klay Thompson added 29 points as the Warriors improved to 42-7, with Curry scoring 11 threes for the fifth time in his NBA career, as well as providing eight assists.

Frank Kaminsky scored 24 points for the Hornets, who have now lost six games on the bounce.

Reigning NBA champions the Cleveland Cavaliers put a miserable January behind them with a 125-97 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

LeBron James scored 27 points as the Cavs, who had an 8-7 losing record last month, dominated despite the continued absence of all-star Kevin Love with a back problem.

Isaiah Thomas turned it on in the fourth quarter as the Boston Celtics came from behind to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-104.

Nineteen of Thomas' 44 points came in the final quarter as the Celtics made it five wins in a row.

Kyle Lowry scored 32 points for Toronto, who have now lost seven of their last nine.

The Celtics had trailed by eight before Thomas scored nine straight points to give them their first lead of the game at 95-94 with 4:39 remaining.

It was a Thomas three-pointer in the final minute that eventually put the game beyond the Raptors' grasp.

Goran Dragic scored 27 points as the Miami Heat extended their winning run to nine with a 116-93 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Other winners included Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers.


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Source: AAP



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