Dyson Daniels registered his first career triple-double in a “special” performance and the Atlanta Hawks kicked off a new era without Trae Young with a win.
Plus Australian big man Jock Landale recorded a double-double against an undermanned Oklahoma City, but the Memphis Grizzlies fell one point short of upstaging the NBA’s best team after a fourth-quarter fadeout.
In Denver, Daniels notched 17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals and Atlanta powered past the Nuggets 110-87 thanks to a dominant 36-12 fourth quarter.
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Daniels had gotten bitterly close to logging his first triple-double in recent games including the rising Aussie recording five double-doubles so far this season.
But on Saturday (all times AEDT) Daniels showed why he’s going to be a key piece for this Hawks team moving forward sans Young with a brilliant display on both ends of the floor.
“It’s pretty special, getting a triple-double’s not an easy thing,” Daniels said post-match.
“I’m just glad we got the win. But I’ve been close to getting that triple-double for a few games now, so I’m glad I got it done.”
Jalen Johnson added 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 22 as the Hawks recorded their second-straight win over an undermanned Nuggets team missing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and improved to 19-21 overall.
Daniels got busy down the stretch of the second term, scoring four-straight Hawks points before assisting on back-to-back Johnson threes.
After Atlanta trailed 74-75 at the last change, the defensive dynamo set the tone early in the fourth quarter with an and-one to open the period and kickstart a 24-3 Hawks run.
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson, front, passes the ball as Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Source: AP
Meanwhile, with tall timber Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams all out of action for the Thunder in Memphis, Melbourne big man Landale took his opportunity with both hands on Saturday as Memphis collapsed late to lose 117-116.
In 28 minutes of action, Landale scored 13 points on an efficient 5-7 shooting, added 10 rebounds and two assists and was a net +5 in his time on the floor.
The 30-year-old, starting in the continued injury absence of centre Zach Edey, had nine points and four rebounds in the first six minutes of the game, taking full advantage of little-known Thunder reserve big Branden Carlson.
The Boomers star was an absolute monster on the offensive glass in the first half, teaching Carlson a lesson in boxing out as the hosting Grizzlies jumped out to a considerable lead.
It’s worth noting the Thunder were also without reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in addition to the decimated frontcourt, with standout forward Jalen Williams doing the majority of the heavy-lifting for the visitors.
Landale entered double digits in the fourth quarter on a short-range make, before checking out of the game with just under five minutes left.
He returned with three minutes left during clutch time and scored a crucial hook shot from 10 feet out with 37.3 seconds left to narrow the margin to one point.
The Grizzlies had a chance to win the game in the final possession — with Landale open in the post with a mismatch on smaller Thunder guard Lu Dort — but guard Cedric Coward couldn’t make something happen as OKC stole the ball away as time expired.
Memphis, who led by as many as 20 points late in the first half, was outscored by 14 points by OKC in the fourth to fall to 16-22.
Meanwhile, Landale’s superstar teammate Ja Morant — the latest big NBA name embroiled in trade talk — sat for the fourth-straight game due to his right calf contusion.
He could be seen on the Grizzlies’ bench in grey sweats and with a hood over his head, looking less than pleased, according to observers at FedEx Forum.
It had earlier on Saturday been reported by ESPN insider Shams Charania that the Grizzlies were taking trade calls on Morant “for the first time” ahead of the February dealing deadline.
The electric point guard, who in seven seasons in Memphis has gone to the All-Star game twice, reportedly told players and former coaches around the league he’d no longer play for Memphis, per ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.
The 26-year-old was earlier this season suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team, with an ESPN report detailing Morant felt “alienated by teammates, who were told to leave the star guard alone so he could work through the issues that led to the suspension”.
**DYSON DIALLED IN VS. DENVER**
In the Mile High City, meantime, Dyson Daniels clinched his first-ever NBA triple-double early in the fourth quarter of the Hawks’ battle with the Nuggets.
Daniels, with his travelling Hawks pushing the undermanned home side, put up 15 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and four steals just minutes into the final period.
It had been a standout evening for the athletic Aussie guard, who’ll only take on more facilitative duties in Atlanta since the franchise dealt four-time All-Star Trae Young to Washington.
**_MORE TO COME._**