Sixers continue winning streak, take down Heat 125-108
Milton nets 31 as Sixers finish sweep of short-handed Heat »
PHILADELPHIA » Ben Simmons called trade rumors part of the NBA. With another triple-double, he showed why he’s coveted around the league — and needed in Philly.
Simmons had 10 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds and Shake Milton returned from COVID-related issues and scored 31 points and lead the Sixers to a 125-108 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
“There’s far worse things going on in the world,” Simmons said of recent trade talk. “If you tell me I’ll never play the game again, that would be a different story.”
The Sixers swept the two-game home set against a Heat team that continues to play with a depleted roster because of issues related to the virus outbreak. Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic sat out, and the Heat were roughed up early by Milton, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris.
Consider, the 76ers led 73-58 at the break — with only nine combined points from All-Stars Joel Embiid and Simmons. Embiid has emerged early as one of the top players in the NBA, and a 45-point, 16-rebound game Tuesday against the Heat was one of his best. He had only nine points on Thursday, but was barely needed.
“I don’t want to hear anything about fatigue,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Philly just outplayed us.”
Simmons had his 30th career triple-double a day after he was dangled as trade bait to Houston.
The Sixers rolled early with the best record in the NBA until COVID issues sent them on a threegame
losing streak — including a loss last week when they had just seven players against Denver — but have returned to form as more players returned to the active roster. Milton and Matisse Thybulle returned off the bench after a threegame break and Harris, who had 18 points, was back in the starting lineup. Only starting guard Seth Curry, who tested positive last week for coronavirus, remained
sidelined against the Heat.
The combination is good enough for Rivers.
“I said it before, I like our team,” he said. “I like today after the trade that we are the same team.”
Milton sank all three 3s and scored 19 points in the half and Maxey, a first-round pick out of Kentucky, continues to shine with his enthusiasm and floaters that made him an instant fan favorite.