READ MORE:<\/strong> Bare knuckle fighter dies weeks after brutal knockout<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> 'Sacrifices' needed for Panthers to win multiple premierships, says Gallen<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The 18-year-old Victorian spent last season in the NBL with the Adelaide 36ers, electing to forego the college basketball system in the USA.<\/p>\n Giddey was named NBL Rookie of the Year last season and will make more than $5 million in his first year in the league, having secured a place in the top 10 picks<\/a>.<\/p>\n He showed no signs of any rust despite an injury during NBA Summer League.<\/p>\n Hornets rookie James Bouknight scored 20 points while Giddey's fellow NBL almunus Lamelo Ball had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/Liam_Santa\/status\/1445211410997284864<\/a><\/p>\n Terry Rozier's pull-up jumper with 5:21 left in the first quarter sparked a 20-7 Hornets spurt for a 34-18 lead at the end of one.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Star stripped of Storm leadership, put on booze ban<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Cricket schedule plunged into further chaos<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Charlotte's Kelly Oubre Jr left in the third quarter with a right lower leg strain and didn't return. Coach James Borrego said the injury wasn't serious and said the forward would be day to day.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Australian Jock Landale came off the bench for the Spurs with a nice showing, grabbing eight points along with six rebounds and three assists.<\/p>\n https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNAusNZ\/status\/1445249891467337731<\/a><\/p>\n The NBA season proper begins in a fortnight.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n