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The 76ers followers came to boo Ben Simmons. They left booing their very be pleased team.
Kevin Durant scored 18 of his 25 functions in Brooklyn’s dominating first half within the Nets’ 129-100 blowout victory over the 76ers on Thursday night in Simmons’ mighty-hyped return to Philadelphia.
Seth Curry added 24 functions, and Kyrie Irving had 22 for the Nets. They entered in eighth space within the East, but looked enjoy a sound conference contender whereas badly outplaying the third-space 76ers.
Joel Embiid had 27 functions and 12 rebounds for the 76ers, and James Harden finished with fair 11 functions. It changed into the first loss for Philadelphia in six video games with Harden within the lineup.
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Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant, left, dribbles previous Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey throughout the second half of an NBA basketball recreation, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Philadelphia.
(AP Represent/Matt Slocum)
The sport changed into dubbed as “Boo Ben” night, however the raucous followers as an replacement was their displeasure on the dwelling team when the 76ers went to the locker room trailing 72-51 and all over again when Brooklyn constructed a dazzling 32-point lead within the third quarter.
“I maintain all of us explore at Ben as our brother,” Durant acknowledged. “We knew this changed into a adverse atmosphere. It’s laborious to chant at Ben Simmons ought to you’re losing by that mighty.”
Simmons, carrying a dressmaker hockey jersey and flashy jewellery, watched from the bench, doubtless taking pride within the vitriol deflected away from him. The three-time All-Star is persevering with to enhance from a abet ruin that has sidelined him since being swapped for Harden in a blockbuster deal at the trade closing date.
“We for certain felt enjoy Ben changed into on our heart,” Irving acknowledged. “In case you approach at Ben, you approach at us.”
While Simmons hasn’t taken the ground yet, Harden had been a boon for the 76ers now not like his time in Brooklyn, the set aside the so-called Sizable 3 of Harden, Durant and Irving managed to play fair 16 video games together following Harden’s trade to Brooklyn remaining January that changed into billed as a potentially championship trail. Harden exchanged fist bumps with Nets team individuals fair earlier than tip earlier than a shockingly downhearted performance from the 10-time All-Star and ragged MVP.
Harden missed 14 of 17 field-arrangement makes an try.
“We fair didn’t score the pop that we wished,” Harden acknowledged.
The very most reasonable shot Simmons took changed into a dunk throughout pregame warmups that drew derisive cheers from the Philly followers.
The boos started early, as Simmons changed into met with catcalls whereas boarding the team bus to shootaround from the Nets’ downtown resort. Simmons did oblige one fan for an autograph, with one other being heard on a video broadly circulated on social media yelling, “Why the complaint? Why spit within the face of Sixers followers? We did nothing but pork up you for five years, Ben. that.”
The heckling persisted when Simmons changed into at the sector. He entered the courtroom 55 minutes sooner than tip, carrying a sleeveless Nets warmup shirt and sweats and spent 20 minutes passing for Patty Mills’ warmup photography. He didn’t embrace any of his ragged teammates, though he did stroll the scale of the courtroom to hug a 76ers legit and then exchanged fist pumps with coach Doc Rivers at halftime.
“Regarded simply to me, looked jubilant to be right here,” Nets coach Steve Nash acknowledged. “I maintain he changed into jubilant to score it out of the capability.”
A extensive security presence closely watched the group and cell phones captured every Simmons trail. By the stop of the recreation, though, many 76ers followers had left and the remainder Nets followers were chanting: “BEN SIM-MONS! BEN SIM-MONS!” in a outstanding turnaround from the birth of the night.
WELCOME BACK
Outdated skool 76ers Curry and Andre Drummond, who moreover were share of the Simmons for Harden trade, were cheered throughout introductions, Curry made 10 of 14 photography, alongside side 4 of 8 from 3-point differ. Drummond had seven functions and 7 rebounds.
MOVE OVER, REGGIE
Harden handed Reggie Miller for third on the NBA’s 3-point list when he made his 2,561st trey with 6: 47 left within the first quarter.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nets: LaMarcus Aldridge (hip) missed his second straight contest.
76ers: Danny Green sat out after injuring his left middle finger within the first half of the 76ers’ 121-106 preserve shut over the Bulls on Monday.
TIP-INS
Nets: Improved to 21-15 on the avenue, the set aside Irving is barely allowed to play due to the his vaccination role. … Durant moreover had 14 rebounds and 7 assists.
76ers: Paul Millsap returned after missing Monday’s recreation towards Chicago due to the private causes but didn’t play. … Outdated skool Sixers and Hall of Famers Allen Iverson and Julus “Dr. J” Erving were in attendance. Erving rang the ceremonial Liberty Bell earlier than the competition.
UP NEXT
Nets: Host Contemporary York on Sunday.
76ers: At Orlando on Sunday.
