Simmons in flying start

AUSTRALIA’S Ben Simmons says his first NBA regular season game for the Philadelphia 76ers was like playing a video game.

The 21-year-old was impressive in his debut, living up to the hype of being the 2016 No.1 draft pick and potentially Australia’s first NBA superstar with an 18point, 10-rebound effort full of sweet moves to the basket, power dunks and laser passes.

It was not enough to prevent the Wizards from winning 120-115 in Washington, DC.

“Really, really exceptional,” said 76ers coach Brett Brown, describing Simmons’ game.

Wizards’ All-Star John Wall paid Simmons the ultimate tribute by comparing him with Cleveland Cavaliers’ star LeBron James. “Ben Simmons is like a LeBron getting the ball off the rim and pushing it to find his teammates,” Wall said.

Simmons said after the game he glanced at teammate Joel Embiid while they were on the court and he had a flashback to the popular video game NBA2K.

“It felt like I was playing 2K, honestly,” Simmons, right, said.

Elsewhere, Milwaukee’s Matthew Dellavedova sank a threepointer in the final minute to fend off fellow Aussie Aron Baynes’ Boston Celtics 108-100.

Dellavedova had 15 points, the Bucks’ Australian centre Thon Maker had two points and three rebounds while Baynes collected four points and two rebounds.

Patty Mills had a single threepointer, two assists and two steals in the San Antonio Spurs’ 107-99 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Joel Ingles started for the Utah Jazz and filled up his stat sheet with 11 points, six assists and five rebounds in their 106-96 win over the Denver Nuggets.