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Ben Simmons shrugged off the boos that rose out of the Philly crowd every time the mercurial guard dealt with the ball.
The Nets guard even egged on followers another time over their reception towards one of many extra loathed former Philly stars in sports activities historical past.
‘I believed it was going to be louder,’ Simmons mentioned.
Tobias Harris scored 24 factors and a spirited Philadelphia 76ers workforce enjoying with out Joel Embiid and James Harden spoiled Simmons’ homecoming with a 115-106 win over Brooklyn on Tuesday night time.
‘I really feel like it is a enormous win for us,’ Harris mentioned. ‘I knew going into the sport we have been all going to return out with this kind of power and this kind of buzz to rise up to play.’
There was loads of buzz from the time the doorways opened in anticipation of Simmons’ return. He had 11 factors, 11 assists and 7 rebounds to the tune of steady boos. Simmons even had a late-game fade acquainted to the Sixers. He didn´t take a shot, was scoreless within the fourth quarter and scored solely two factors within the second half.
Ben Simmons had a fiery reception as he performed in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday
Simmons was focused by 76ers followers all through the night time because the Nets misplaced 115-106
Kyrie Irving scored 23 factors and Kevin Durant had 20 earlier than coach Jacque Vaughn pulled his beginning lineup with 3 minutes left within the recreation.
‘Everyone desires to see our workforce fail,’ Durant mentioned. ‘No person likes Ben. No person likes Ky. No person likes myself.’
The anticipated marquee matchup was dimmed with Embiid out with a sprained left foot, Harden nonetheless out with a tendon pressure in his proper foot and beginning guard Tyrese Maxey additionally out with a damaged left foot.
Embiid vs. Simmons must wait however Simmons vs. 76ers followers was fairly good.
Simmons was heckled, drew a flagrant foul, shushed a sellout crowd of 20,184 on a layup, and even Jordan-shrugged after hitting free throws. Of most significance for a participant who has battled psychological well being points, Simmons performed with poise as boos rained on him for the majority of his 32 minutes.
‘I really feel like I am in an excellent place,’ Simmons mentioned. ‘I am completely satisfied. I do what I really like. To be on the market and having that have was wonderful.’
He already had three assists when he went to the free-throw line early within the recreation. Simmons was booed however by no means appeared rattled and sank each baskets. Simmons had a reverse layup minutes later for his first bucket.
Sixers followers have been largely well-behaved – save for a few short-lived ‘(expletive) Ben Simmons!’ chants – and largely saved the four-letter phrases for tape on the again of their outdated No. 25 jerseys.
Simmons and second-year Sixer Georges Niang tussled late within the first half and Niang gave his former teammate a light-weight stiff-arm to the physique that earned a technical foul.
Harden couldn´t imagine the decision from the bench. Sixers proprietor Josh Harris appeared appalled.
Simmons missed the technical free throw and the group roared as a lot because it did all recreation. Simmons, although, hit the court docket for a steal and knocked the free ball to Durant for a bucket.
The Sixers nonetheless took a 63-57 lead into the break.
It wasn´t all jeers, all recreation. Simmons did make 76ers followers go wild over him when he missed consecutive free throws within the second half and triggered a free fast-food rooster promotion.
Simmons bought welcomed by his outdated workforce – right here he’s pictured greeting Tobias Harris
Nets star Kevin Durant mentioned after the sport that ‘everyone desires to see our workforce fail’
‘I believed he was in assault mode, he was aggressive, confirmed lots of poise via the course of the night time,’ Vaughn mentioned. ‘The expertise to get via and get it behind him, actually good.’
Simmons averaged 15.9 factors, 8.1 rebounds and seven.7 assists over 4 seasons with Philadelphia, which drafted him out of LSU, the place he performed just one season. His omnipresent complications, reminiscent of his refusal to shoot past 15 toes, outweighed his in any other case gifted defensive and playmaking abilities. Simmons´ relationship with the Sixers deteriorated following the 2021 playoffs and he demanded a commerce.
Simmons made a shock return to the Sixers shortly earlier than final season opened however was promptly kicked off form and suspended for one recreation. The punishment didn´t matter; the No. 1 decide of the 2016 draft by no means had any intention of enjoying.
Simmons hugged Rivers within the handshake line and met with friends and family sitting on the baseline earlier than he headed for the customer’s tunnel – and one ultimate refrain of boos.
‘I feel it may be like this ceaselessly,’ Simmons mentioned. ‘I actually do not see it altering.’
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