Ben Simmons has produced his finest recreation for the Brooklyn Nets as they confirmed why they’re severe NBA title contenders with a 118-100 win over the high-flying Milwaukee Bucks.
The Australian earned wealthy reward from commentators as he completed simply shy of a triple-double, notching 12 factors, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in his 28 minutes on court docket in Friday evening’s dwelling recreation.
Appointed after Steve Nash was sacked in early November after a 2-5 season begin amid upheaval, coach Jacque Vaughn deserves recognition for the turnaround which has made the Nets (21-12) a potent, cohesive power.
They are on their longest profitable streak since shifting to Brooklyn a decade in the past after an eighth straight victory, which got here two days after they scored 91 first-half factors in a demolition of defending champions Golden State.
Vaughn has Simmons slotting in productively alongside fellow All-Stars Kevin Durant, who has been in MVP kind, and Kyrie Irving whereas getting robust performances from the supporting forged.
There have been loads of early-season doubts about Simmons, on return after lacking all of final season after issues turned bitter with the Philadelphia 76ers.
But his robust defence, ball-handling and close-range scoring are proving large belongings.
Durant once more led the best way with 24 factors whereas centre Nic Claxton added 19 and Irving had 18, with bench gamers Royce O’Neale (17) and T.J Warren (12) additionally large contributors.
The Bucks (22-10) depended closely on famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo (26 factors, 13 rebounds, seven assists), centre Brooke Lopez (23 factors) and guard Jrue Holliday (18) however couldn’t hold tempo with the Nets’ slick ball motion.
Boomers veteran Joe Ingles went scoreless from fours photographs in 17 minutes in his third recreation again from a knee reconstruction for Milwaukee, who dropped to second within the Eastern Conference standings after the Celtics’ 121-109 win over Minnesota in Boston.
In Oklahoma City, Josh Giddey got here up in opposition to fellow Australian younger gun Dyson Daniels and produced a double-double however his Thunder (14-19) have been crushed 128-125 by the New Orleans Pelicans (20-12) after additional time.
Giddey had 20 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists whereas Shai Gilegeous-Alexander top-scored with 44 factors. Daniels was scoreless in quarter-hour off the bench however the Pelicans had seven gamers scoring 10 or extra factors.
with the AP
