Josh Giddey found his fire and other takeaways from OKC Thunder’s double OT win over Raptors

Josh Giddey played his best game of the season

It has been an uphill battle for Josh Giddey throughout the season. The road game boos, coupled with a reduced role and poor shooting numbers, practically hurt Giddey’s demeanor and confidence through games. 

But against the Raptors, Giddey found his smile—perhaps even his fire—back.  

Giddey brought spark in the second half, drilled some crucial baskets, and finished the game with a team-high 24 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting from the field, alongside six rebounds and six assists. Giddey also limited his turnovers to just two. 

His timely three-pointers in regulation and overtime allowed the Thunder to stay in the game and eke out the win. His crossover, and three-point play off a layup in the final minute of the game served as the Thunder’s dagger and the final nail in the coffin after a long game. 

There, Giddey was hyped. He was screaming and fired up—an emotion rarely seen from the young Aussie throughout the season. He seemed to be back to where he wanted to be in terms of on-court emotions and control. 

This may have been a tough season for Giddey, but the Thunder and head coach Mark Daigneualt, who played him 41 minutes and through various stretches at the end of regulation and overtime, remained confident with Giddey. 

The Thunder faithful is certainly hoping that this Giddey performance is a step to the right trajectory for the once-sixth overall pick.