Daniels, Simmons step up as their NBA teams slide

(Source: AAP News)

Great contributions from Australians Dyson Daniels and Ben Simmons couldn’t stop their NBA teams from continuing to slip.

The younger Daniels backed up his 15 points with six assists, six steals and a block, but his Atlanta Hawks lost 128-112 at home to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

The Hawks were without their big star Trae Young (heel), but this absence was compensated by the absence of Ja Morant from the Grizzlies.

Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 22 points starting for the Grizzlies in place of the injured Morant.

The Hawks (14-15) got off to a strong start to the season and reached the semifinals of the NBA season, but have now lost four of their last five games.

Simmons also had 15 points on Saturday to go along with his 10 assists and six rebounds for the Brooklyn Nets in a 105-94 home loss to the poorly placed Utah Jazz.

It was Simmons’ first double-double of the season for the Nets (11-17), who have lost seven of their last nine games.

Australian star Josh Giddey missed a second straight game for the Chicago Bulls with a sprained ankle as they lost 123-98 to the defending champion Boston Celtics (21-6) at home.

This result canceled out the surprise 117-108 victory that the Bulls (13-15) had won against the Celtics in Boston two days earlier.

Celtics ace Jayson Tatum scored a season-high 43 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out 10 assists for his third career triple-double.

Darius Garland scored 26 points to lead six players in double figures as the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to a league-best 25-4 with a 126-99 victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers.