Sixers maintain off Simmons and Nets, Lillard sinks 60

The Philadelphia 76ers gained their grudge match towards Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets 137-133 on Wednesday as Damian Lillard erupted for 60 factors in Portland’s victory over Utah.

After an acrimonious break up from Philadelphia final 12 months, Simmons returned to his former dwelling to face a hostile reception from the Sixers crowd.

The sport marked the primary time that Simmons has confronted former team-mate Joel Embiid since his commerce to Brooklyn final February that despatched James Harden to Philadelphia.

Simmons left Philadelphia final 12 months after locker-room tensions with Embiid, and the lingering unhealthy blood was evident from the outset.

The high-scoring first quarter was dogged by trash-talking as the perimeters scored 41 factors apiece and gave up a mixed 13 fouls.

Regardless of his group coming away with the win, Sixers coach Doc Rivers was sad with Philadelphia’s “emotional” strategy to the sport.

“There is a distinction between depth, taking part in with emotion and being too emotional,” Rivers mentioned afterwards.

“I assumed our aspect truthfully had been on the unsuitable aspect of that so much tonight. Now we have to be higher at dealing with our feelings.”

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers’ scoring with 27 factors, whereas Embiid completed with 26 and Harden 23.

Seth Curry led Brooklyn’s scorers with 32 factors whereas Kyrie Irving added 30. Simmons was restricted to 12 factors.

– Lillard hits 60 –

In Portland, Lillard bagged the fourth 60-point efficiency of his profession because the Path Blazers gained an exciting shoot-out with the Utah Jazz 134-124.

Lillard nailed 9 three-pointers whereas capturing 21 of 29 from the sector as Portland improved to 23-25 within the Western Convention standings.

“That was unbelievable,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups mentioned of Lillard’s efficiency. “You do not get to see that fairly often.”

Lillard is one in all solely six gamers in NBA historical past with a number of 60-point video games. Wilt Chamberlain holds the report with 32 60-pointers, whereas Kobe Bryant achieved the feat six instances.

The opposite gamers on the listing are Michael Jordan (5), Elgin Baylor (4) and Harden (4).

“Even when issues weren’t going our manner, I all the time felt I might get us again within the recreation,” Lillard mentioned afterwards.

“If you get in that kind of zone you’re feeling like you’ll be able to management the result.”

Elsewhere Wednesday, Jordan Poole hit a go-ahead layup with 2.4 seconds remaining to provide the NBA champion Golden State Warriors an exciting 122-120 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in San Francisco.

A frenzied conflict between the 2 Western Convention rivals noticed Stephen Curry ejected for less than the third time in his profession.

Curry was tossed out of the sport with 1min 14 remaining after throwing his mouthguard in frustration after a rushed three-point try by Poole.

Nevertheless Poole made up for it together with his game-winning layup to seal victory in a see-saw conflict that noticed no fewer than 24 lead adjustments.

Regardless of the ejection, Curry led the Warriors’ scoring with 34 factors, making 10 of 19 from the sector.

Klay Thompson added 24 factors whereas Poole completed with 21 factors.

Ja Morant led the Memphis scoring with 29 factors.

In Los Angeles in the meantime, Anthony Davis returned from a 20-game harm absence for the Lakers with 21 factors of their 113-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

LeBron James added 20 factors whereas Patrick Beverley chipped in with 18.

In different video games on Wednesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 33-point haul helped the Milwaukee Bucks rating a 107-99 victory over the Western Convention-leading Denver Nuggets.

Antetokounmpo delivered a dominant show which additionally included 14 rebounds and three steals because the Bucks took full benefit of the absence of Nikola Jokic to defeat Denver.

Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets’ scoring with 26 factors.

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