Simmons comes up big as Sixers win one away

BEN Simmons stepped up and went close to a triple-double as Philadelphia 76ers claimed their first away win of the NBA season, hanging tough to beat Indiana 100-94.

The Australian point guard contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Sixers, who came into the encounter having won all of their first six matches at home, while dropping their previous five on the road.

“I’m excited that we got our first road win this year,” coach Brett Brown said.

“We were pleased to get a win, especially after a performance we wanted to forget [a 25-point drubbing away to Brooklyn].”

The Pacers were well led by star guard Victor Oladipo, who had a game-high 36 points. But Simmons was one of six Sixers in double figures as they won on Indiana’s home court for the first time since 2013.

“We were just over-thinking things,” Simmons said of his side’s previous away losses.

“We were putting too much pressure on ourselves.”

The 76ers’ solution to their road woes? Start fast and finish strong.

So just three nights after an inexplicable 25-point loss at Brooklyn, Joel Embiid, Simmons and their teammates felt right at home in one of coach Brown’s favourite NBA arenas.

Embiid collected his league-high 11th double-double on what he called an “off night”, while Dario Saric scored a season-high 18 points by going 4 for 6 on threepointers. And they did it by simply sticking to the plan.

The Sixers quickly jumped to a 19-9 lead, weathered Indiana’s rally, then regained control by closing the third quarter on a 6-1 flurry and opened the fourth with a decisive 16-7 run.

When it ended on Simmons’s breakaway layup with six minutes to play, Philadelphia led 94-77.

“We finally put it together,” Simmons said after the match.

The victory spoiled Oladipo’s best night of the season. He scored 24 points in the first half on 10 of 16 shooting and frustrated Bogut broke from the group and stormed to the sheds after a substandard half from the Kings.

Randle believes the outburst was over the top but he revealed it had been addressed within the playing group.

“If he (Andrew) is going to storm off like that, then those finished with a season-high 36 points. He also had seven assists, six rebounds and three blocks.

But Oladipo and Domnatas Sabonis, who had 16 points and 11 rebounds, needed more help from their supporting cast to avoid losing their second straight home game. are things he needs to deal with within himself,” Randle said. “I don’t think that was good for the team to see, him storming off like that.

“But at the end of the day he is only human and we all get frustrated.

“It is what it is — he’ll be all right. But for the most part he And when they didn’t get it, the 76ers took advantage.

“We just didn’t hit shots tonight, honestly,” Oladipo said. “I think we just need to loosen up a little bit and go back to playing free basketball.”

In other NBA action, a season-high haul of 20 points isn’t showing that within the team. We spoke about it afterwards, we figured it out and we just have to move on.”

Randle conceded his offensive connection with Bogut was a work in progress but was confident the pair would discover their groove.

“It’s growing,” he said. from Aussie guard Patty Mills could not prevent San Antonio suffering a 95-88 loss to Miami Heat. Mills came off the bench to shoot eight of 21 from the field.

Over in Utah, Aussie Dante Exum and Joe Ingles returned to the winner’s table as the Utah Jazz scored an

“I think it is more growing for the team. I think everybody is still stuck on the one-two punch with Jerome and Bogut but we are still learning each other and for the most part we are just trying to figure out each other as a team.

“We are still trying to figure out our identity as a team.” impressive win over the Dallas Mavericks. Struggling to find any stroke from beyond the arc, Ingles found other ways to contribute, notching six assists and three steals to go with his nine points.

Exum was again solid off the bench, scoring nine points in just 11 minutes

Bogut is averaging 12 points and league highs in rebounds (12.3) and blocks (3.1) per game to go with four assists.

“Andrew is doing Randle said.

“He has had a couple of great games but I’m not playing my style of basketball and I have to step it up,” well,”