Dyson Daniels got a close first-up look at the new Victor Wembanyama-De’Aaron Fox combination as his Atlanta Hawks were pipped 126-125 by the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA thriller.
Former Sacramento Kings point guard Fox teamed with 7-foot-3 centre Wembanyama for the first time since being traded as he debuted for the Spurs in Wednesday night’s game in Atlanta.
They are off to a positive start after Fox scored 24 points and matched his season high with 13 assists and Wembanyama’s go-ahead free throw with 2.4 seconds remaining gave the Spurs (22-26) victory.
“He (Fox) just brings a lot to the table for us,” said reigning NBA rookie of the year Wembanyama, who added 24 points.
“Our goals for the season are even more attainable. We get to use all our strengths and we just added a big strength.”
Trae Young had Young had 32 points with 12 assists for Atlanta (23-28) while Australian starter Daniels was typically productive with 19 points, seven assists, eight rebounds and two steals.
Fox also had five rebounds and three steals.
“When I came in everybody told me to be myself and not to come in and try to fit in,” Fox said, adding he was impressed by his new teammates. “That’s why I think this group can be special.”
In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 50 points to lead the NBA-leading hosts to a 140-109 home win over the Phoenix Suns. It was the third 50-plus-point game of Gilgeous-Alexander’s career, all of them coming over the past seven games.
The Suns, who were playing without Kevin Durant who was listed as being sidelined due to an ankle injury amid trade rumours ahead of the Thursday trade deadline.
On a day when it was reported that disgruntled Miami star Jimmy Butler is heading to the Golden State Warriors in a deal that sends Andrew Wiggins the other way, the Heat (25-24) posted a 108-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
In Charlotte, Damian Lillard had 29 points and 12 assists and Bobby Portis had 23 points and 17 rebounds to help the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Charlotte Hornets 112-102 in their first game since trading longtime guard Khris Middleton.
Lillard was forced to carry the load for the Bucks (27-22) , who played without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf soreness) and still managed to snap a four-gamne losing skid.
In Minneapolis, Australia’s Josh Giddey had 19 points, four asssists and four rebounds as his short-handed Chicago Bulls lost to the host Timberwolves 127-108 a day after beating the Miami Heat.
Coby White had 20 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago who were without centre Zach Collins, swingman Kevin Huerter and guard Tre Jones after the weekend trade that sent prolific scorer Zach LaVine to Sacramento and Fox to San Antonio.
They were also without Giddey’s fellow point guard Lonzo Ball, with the injury-plagued star rested (knee management) on a day when he agreed to a two-year contract extension.
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