Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons finds redemption in triple-double win

After complaining about boos following the Philadelphia 76ers’ Game 1 loss, Ben Simmons redeemed himself with an 18-12-10 triple-double in a commanding 145-123 win over the Nets.

When Ben Simmons publicly rebutted Philadelphia 76ers fans for booing during the team’s 102-111 loss to the Brooklyn Nets after Game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs, it rubbed some people the wrong way.

From First Take, to Undisputed, to even local talk radio, fans, pundits, and analysts alike feverishly debated the actions of fans in the City of Brotherly Love and debated whether or not the sold-out crowd at the Wells Fargo Center was right to react that way in the moment.

Fast forward to Monday night, and Simmons has been fully vindicated.

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Granted, Simmons did walk his initial comments back almost immediately, saying that “It’s Philly. That’s what’s going to happen. I love it. That’s how Philly is. If you can’t play here, you can’t.” to NBC Sports Philadelphia on Sunday, but what better way to show fans a fervor, passion, and endearing will to win that was noticeably absent in Game 1 to yet another sold-out Wells Fargo Crowd than to deliver onto them an 18-12-10 triple-double in the highest scoring playoff win in franchise history?

Well, that’s exactly what Simmons did, and boy was it fun to watch.

With his effort, intensity, and even star-caliber called into question by seemingly the entirety of the sports world, Simmons came out hot; driving the basket early and often, while earning two trips to the line and two steals versus only three turnovers.

And in a scene seldom seen this season, Simmons fire and intensity really energized his troops.

After being publicly called out by Nets forward Jared Dudley, who was inactive due to a calf injury, Simmons gave it his all for all 30 of his minutes on the court, playing lockdown, 1-5 defense against everyone from D’Angelo Russell to DeMarre Carroll while hitting eight of his 12 shots from the field.

The Sixers’ starting point guard also went 2-2 on shots from 10 feet or more, which isn’t particularly impressive for most players, but was an encouraging sight for Simmons, as he’s typically been relegated to scoring exclusively in the paint.

Russell, on the other hand, scored 16 points in the first half and finished out the game with 16, in large part due to a dominant defensive effort primarily led by the 6-foot-10 Aussie. While Russell and the Nets other two top guards, Caris LeVert, and Spencer Dinwiddie were the difference in Game 1, the 76ers’ ability to lock down the outside and funnel Brooklyn scorers inside helped to neutralize the Nets’ biggest strength.

Sometimes talent just shines through.

While Simmons wasn’t the Sixers top scorer, he actually finished third behind Joel Embiid (obviously) and Tobias Harris, who admirably bounced back after a disastrous four-point Game 1 (more on that here), he was without a doubt the team’s best player in Game 2, and the best player on the court regardless.

With the Philadelphia 76ers now off until Thursday, when they will take the show on the road up the Jersey Turnpike to the Barclay Center in beautiful Brooklyn, New York, Ben Simmons can hold his head high; as he gave fans in the City of Brotherly Love his all in a game for the ages.