Aussies Abroad: Giddey passes NBA legends

Josh Giddey has registered yet another triple double and helped pull off a huge defensive play in the dying seconds as Chicago held on for a thrilling 121-120 NBA win over Washington.

The last placed Wizards entered Saturday night's (Sunday AEDT) match on the back of a 13 match losing run, but a big upset was looming when they soared to a 16 point lead in the second quarter.

The Bulls fought back to take a five point advantage with three minutes to play, they blew that to trail by one, but grabbed back the lead in the final minute.

With 6.1 seconds remaining and Chicago up by a point, Washington had an inbound pass to launch what could be a game winning shot.

The ball made its way to Kyshawn George, who was immediately double teamed by Giddey and Tre Jones.

The pressure resulted in George hitting the deck, and his panicked pass while on the ground missed the target and went out of bounds.

Giddey finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals for his 22nd career triple double, surpassing the likes of Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Chris Webber on the NBA's all time list.

Giddey could surpass Michael Jordan's mark of 30 this season, but the overall record of more than 200 and counting held by Russell Westbrook is still light years ahead.

Each of Chicago's past four wins have been by four points or fewer.

Their latest triumph came just a day after they were thumped 143-107 at home by the Miami Heat.

Giddey was crucial in the bounce back win as Chicago moved to 9-7, but he had plenty of help.

Bulls centre Nikola Vucevic tallied 28 points and 12 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds, while Coby White (20 points, six assists) and Matas Buzelis (13 points, six rebounds, three blocks) were also crucial.

Josh Giddey continues his hot run of form with yet another triple double in the Bulls come from behind win over the Wizards

Cam Whitmore and Corey Kispert scored 20 apiece for Washington, while George finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, but also plenty of regrets about the final play.

Former Perth Wildcats star Alex Sarr recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds for the struggling Wizards.

Vucevic, who received an audacious behind the back pass from Giddey late in the match to score a crucial basket, wasn't happy with his team's lacklustre display over the first three quarters.

"For three quarters we were very soft," Vucevic told CHSN after the match.

"We gave no resistance, we didn't do anything that we talked about. Just played really soft, it was really bad."

While Giddey was starring in Chicago, fellow Australian Dyson Daniels also put up impressive numbers to help Atlanta post a 115-98 win over the Pelicans in New Orleans.

Daniels registered 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal as the Hawks improved to 10-7.

Kristaps Porzingis top scored for Atlanta with 29 points, while Vit Krejci (21 points) and Jalen Johnson (18 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists) were also crucial.

And it was a hat trick of wins for Australians, with Memphis Grizzlies big man Jock Landale scoring seven points in just five minutes of action in a 102-96 triumph over Dallas.

In other action, James Harden scored a franchise record 55 points as the Los Angeles Clippers snapped a three game losing streak in a 131-116 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

And Cade Cunningham posted 29 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as the Detroit Pistons won their 12th consecutive game with a 129-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.