Aussies Abroad: Daniels' Hawks fall to Raptors

Dyson Daniels' Atlanta Hawks have slumped to a second-straight hefty loss to the Toronto Raptors as trade speculation swirls around their four-time All-Star Trae Young.

Beaten 134-117 in Toronto two days ago, the Hawks went down 118-100 on Monday, slipping to 17-21 for the season.

Daniels played a game-high 39 minutes for the visitors, scoring 11 points on disappointing 4 of 13 field goal shooting and adding six rebounds and three assists.

It has been a frustrating stretch for the Australian, with his club ending 2025 on a sour note in the form of a seven-game losing streak.

But all the talk has been about Young, a key figure at the Hawks since being drafted in 2018, who remains sidelined after battling knee and quad injuries this season.

ESPN is reporting Young and his agents are working with the franchise on a trade, having been in discussion over several months since the Hawks chose not to offer the highly-paid star an extension.

The point guard is contracted until the end of next season, with a player option in the off-season.

Young has played only 10 games this season, missing 27 through injury and perversely the Hawks thrived in his absence.

They are 2-8 with him on court and 15-12 without him as the likes of Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have stepped up, the pair each averaging more than 20 points a game.

Should Young depart, it could potentially lead to a bigger offensive role for regular starter and defensive gun Daniels, who has consistently impressed this season.

Johnson had 13 points and 14 rebounds on Monday and Onyeka Okongwu finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while centre Kristaps Porzingis returned to the Hawks' line-up, scoring nine points in 20 minutes off the bench.

Meanwhile, the short-handed Denver Nuggets posted a dramatic 125-124 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Bruce Brown scored 19 points and got the winning bucket in overtime off a goaltending call on Joel Embiid, while Jalen Pickett had 29 points.

Embiid was whistled for the decisive goaltend when he tried to block Brown's running layup with 5.3 seconds left. Tyrese Maxey missed a winning floater for the Sixers at the horn.

The Nuggets played without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic — out at least until the end of the month with a with a hyperextended left knee — Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and others a night after a loss at Brooklyn.

In Houston, Kevin Durant scored 26 points as his three-pointer with 1.1 seconds to go lifted the Rockets to a 100-97 win over the Phoenix Suns.