Sixers buck the leaders
BEN Simmons and his Philadelphia 76ers made a big Christmas Day statement, thumping NBA leaders Milwaukee Bucks 121-109.
There was a charged atmosphere for Philadelphia’s first home Christmas game in 31 years, a match-up featuring Joel Embiid and Simmons against league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Embiid played like an MVP and the three-point happy Sixers — a season-high 21 from beyond the arc — pushed around a Bucks team that has the best record in the NBA.
“A lot of people have kind of forgotten who I am,” he said after he collected 31 points and 11 rebounds, “When I’m needed, I’m going to show up.”
Australian point guard Simmons chimed in with 15 points, also adding 14 assists and seven rebounds.
The Sixers are 16-2 at home and improved to 23-10 to be fourth in the east while the Bucks are 27-5.
The fired-up hosts took the biggest halftime lead (21 points) by any team against the Bucks under coach Mike Budenholzer.
“I think this team is designed for the playoffs,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said. “I believe the road we have travelled so far has been a little bit erratic, at times. But I think the landing spot is exciting.”
Middleton led the visitors with 31 points while Antetokounmpo was kept to eight of 27 from the floor, for 18 points and 11 rebounds.
“We had to have our character tested today because the only way you get better is when you face adversity,” Antetokounmpo said.
In the battle of Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard had 35 points as the Clippers surged to a 111-106 win over the Lakers.
Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with 25 points while Anthony David added 24 and LeBron James, who was one rebound short of a triple-double, contributed 23. James had the chance to tie the game but he turned over possession.
The Lakers have lost four in a row but still head the west at 24-7 while the Clippers are 23-10 in third.
Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors claimed only their eighth win of the season, 116-104 win over Houston Rockets, while Jaylen Brown scored 30 points to lead Boston Celtics to a 118-102 win at the defending champion Toronto.