Ben Simmons has proven poise to shrug and smile by the boos and flirt with a triple-double in his NBA return to Philadelphia.
But it was the 76ers, lacking three of their largest names, who had the final giggle in a 115-106 win over Brooklyn.
The Australian completed with 11 factors, 11 assists, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
But he did not add to his haul in a fourth quarter dominated by the house aspect.
Injured trio James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid had been all lacking for Philadelphia however Tobias Harris (24 factors), Paul Reed (19 factors, 10 rebounds), De’Anthony Melton (22 factors) and a fiery Georges Niang (16 factors) stepped up.
It was Simmons’ first look at Wells Fargo Centre since his inglorious departure to Brooklyn halfway by final season.
He had requested a commerce after copping ridicule for the aspect’s weak 2021 finals exit, Simmons’ reluctance to shoot the ball and poor free throw proportion a lightning rod for followers looking for somebody responsible.
Voracious boos and chants from the famously parochial Sixers crowd welcomed him onto court docket and at any time when he had the ball.
But Simmons, who has struggled with psychological well being points, nearly appeared to get pleasure from it.
“I thought it was going to be louder,” Simmons, who frolicked pre-game within the stands signing autographs for rusted-on followers, stated.
“I feel like I’m in a good place. I’m happy. I do what I love. To be out there and having that experience was amazing.”
He had three assists inside 90 seconds, then smiled wryly and shrugged his shoulders after mockingly making each of his first two free throws.
A number of short-lived, “F*** Ben Simmons!” chants had been adopted by ecstatic cheers when the person of the second missed each free throws within the second half, triggering a free hen promotion.
Simmons stood tall for a block then slammed down the one-hand jam and traded phrases with Niang after he drew a flagrant foul for an innocuous elbow to the abdomen.
A steal then determined dive bought the ball to Kevin Durant (20 factors) for a simple two factors and it was a three-point sport with one quarter to play.
But Harris took cost within the last interval; the Nets falling to 8-10, the 76ers as much as 9-8 with the highly-anticipated match-up between Simmons and Embiid positioned on maintain.
“I thought he was in attack mode, he was aggressive, showed a lot of poise through the course of the night,” coach Jacque Vaughn stated.
“The experience to get through and get it behind him, really good.”
Simmons hugged his former coach Doc Rivers within the handshake line and met with family and friends sitting on the baseline earlier than heading for the guests’ tunnel and copping one last refrain of boos.
“I think it’s going to be like this forever,” Simmons stated. “I really don’t see it changing.”
