Giddey reaching heights

JOSH Giddey’s reputation as Australian basketball’s “Wizard of Oz” continues to grow.

Giddey produced the best offensive game of his rookie NBA season thus far, even though it wasn’t enough to stop the Philadelphia 76ers without Ben Simmons.

The Melbourne-born guard (pictured) continued his impressive start to his maiden campaign with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and 4 steals in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s gutsy 115-103 loss to the 76ers.

Giddey had 11 first-half points while he produced a pretty floater over 76ers big man Joel Embiid.

He also got knocked down hard by Embiid while attempting a layup in the fourth quarter, but he responded in style with a steal on the All-Star centre before scoring a corner three.

Fellow Aussie Matisse Thybulle had three points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal for Philadelphia.

In other news, Patty Mills’ perfect start to the season from range came to an end when he shot just one of six from three in Brooklyn’s 111-95 loss to Charlotte. Mills finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists.