Instant breakdown of Sixers vs. Nets: Joel Embiid wins first matchup against Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons #BenSimmons
The Philadelphia 76ers (31-16) welcomed the Brooklyn Nets (29-18) to town for yet another energy-packed showdown. In the first matchup between Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the Sixers won a wild game by a score of 137-133.
Let’s break down the Sixers Nets.
Sixers player notes:
Joel Embiid: 26 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 6-18 FG shooting
Embiid was listed as questionable to play leading up to this game but it’s safe to say he was looking to play in this one. He went right at Simmons, though he wasn’t crisp as he looked to score. His first field goal came after roughly eight minutes of game time with an uncontested dunk on a transition play in which he didn’t back on defense.
Embiid got going more in the last three quarters but still was scoring as easily as he usually does. The Nets did send him to the free-throw line often but they also made life tougher for him when he got the ball. In the end, he got the best of his former co-star.
Tyrese Maxey: 27 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 8-14 FG shooting
Moving back to the bench with Harden returning to the lineup didn’t shake the rhythm he had in the Sixers’ last game. If anything, he was even better. He was on fire to start this one, hitting shots left and right and pushing the lead for Philly. His playmaking was great, too, especially on an alley-oop to Matisse Thybulle in the third quarter.
De’Anthony Melton: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 7-10 FG shooting
Melton had a big scoring night, making his first six shots in a variety of ways. He hit a bunch of triples and even had a nice finish on a layup in traffic. He also came up with some key hustle plays, like an offensive rebound and dish to Maxey for a triple with just a few minutes left and two free throws to put the Sixers up by four late in the game.
James Harden: 23 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 6-12 FG shooting
Tonight was not a particularly great night for Harden. He committed several brutal turnovers and wasn’t scoring or dishing at the high levels he usually does. He did, though, provide some pivotal plays in the fourth quarter.
Nets player notes:
Ben Simmons: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5-7 FG shooting
Simmons had a decent-at-best game the last time he visited Philadelphia. This time around, he looked to really make an impact…kind of. It was clear by the way he defended that he wanted to slow down Harden and Embiid, playing both with tons of physicality.
Offensively, though, he really didn’t do much. He didn’t even look to score until the second half, opting instead to pass to his teammates and hardly look at the rim. The crowd, of course, showered him with non-stop boos in what was ultimately a lackluster performance in which he didn’t play down the stretch.
Kyrie Irving: 30 points, 2 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, 9-15 FG shooting
Irving got off to a hot start, recording seven points and three assists in the first six minutes of game time. He stayed aggressive and was the biggest difference-maker for the Nets, continuing to break down the Philly defense and keep the Brooklyn offense going without Kevin Durant in the lineup.
Seth Curry: 32 points, 0 rebounds, 4 assists, 11-20 FG shooting
The former Sixer was lights out off the bench, scoring in bunches to keep the Nets close throughout the contest. His ability to relocate quickly and fire off a shot gave Philly some trouble. He made seven of his 10 attempts from downtown.
Game notes:
1st half
2nd half
Random thoughts:
The Sixers have another highly anticipated game this Saturday. They’ll get their first look of the season at Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets at 3:00 PM EST.
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