Australian centre Jock Landale has stunned on his Atlanta Hawks debut, delivering a double-double and hitting a crucial three-pointer in a 121-119 NBA win over Utah.
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Landale fired with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds on Friday (AEDT) in the Hawks' tense home victory.
The 30-year-old Boomers star was traded from Utah to Atlanta on Thursday, just a day after he was traded from Memphis to the Jazz.
He hit his fifth three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining to put the Hawks ahead, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored the final go-head basket with 1.3 seconds left.
Jalen Johnson (22 points, 15 rebounds) and Alexander-Walker (23 points) shone for the Hawks.
As well as his double-double, Landale added five assists and four blocks after a whirlwind few days.
He shot 10-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-8 from long range, and equalled season-high tallies in points and rebounds.
"I was actually sitting on a plane waiting to go to Utah and I get the call saying 'get off the damn plane'," Landale said post-game.
"The option was to fly in this morning or drive last night.
"I thought I'd come here, get a good night's sleep, get up, see the boys work out this morning and just kind of get acclimatised.
"I'm just glad to be here, playing some basketball, yeah."
Landale's move to Atlanta comes amid career-best form, and has been hailed as a positive both for the 211cm centre and the Boomers ahead of the FIBA World Cup and Olympics.
Almost exclusively a role player in his four previous NBA seasons, Landale started 11 of his last 13 games for Memphis and put up four double-doubles in that time.
The one-time NBL grand final MVP averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds across 45 games for the Grizzlies this season.
He also spent time at the San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets to begin his NBA career.
Fellow Australian Dyson Daniels scored 11 points for Atlanta against Utah, but the Hawks have cut compatriot centre Duop Reath.
Reath, who was traded to the Hawks from Portland this week, is out for the rest of the season after undergoing foot surgery for a stress fracture.
Atlanta's win gave them a sweep of the two-game series against Utah and they have now won four straight games against the Jazz.
Elsewhere, Australian guard Josh Green scored 14 points for Charlotte as they extended their winning streak to eight with a 109-99 win over faltering Houston.
It is the Hornets' longest winning run since 1998-99.
Green came off the bench and was a perfect four-of-four from the field, adding four steals and two assists.
Australian star Josh Giddey remained sidelined with a hamstring injury as Chicago lost away to Toronto 123-107.
Australian Associated Press
