Simmons exits with back soreness
IT WAS a sight no Australian basketball fan wants to see.
NBA star Ben Simmons walking off the court injured just seven minutes into a game.
Australia’s reigning NBA Rookie of The Year was withdrawn from his Philadelphia 76ers’ 116-115 home victory over Orlando Magic with back soreness and didn’t return.
The Sixers felt his absence as Eastern conference min- nows Orlando took the home side right down to the wire to earn back-to-back wins at the Wells Fargo Centre.
Sixers coach Brett Brown moved to allay fears the injury was serious and that a first-quarter exit “was precautionary”.
The former Australian Boomers mentor appeared confident post-game that overnight tests would clear 22-year-old Melbourne native Simmons to play next Tuesday’s away game against Detroit Pistons.
But without star point guard Simmons, the Sixers relied on veteran JJ Redick and star big man Joel Embiid to step up – the duo combining for 63 points against Orlando, who finished second-last on the Eastern conference standings last season.
Sharpshooter Redick’s 31 points matched his highest score for the Sixers and was iced with an impressive eight three-pointers from 13 attempts, while Embiid bagged a game-high 32 points as well as 10 rebounds.
Redick’s final three-pointer was nailed while on the run from the sideline and gave the Sixers a 116-114 edge with 17 seconds to play.
A ginger Simmons was seemingly off colour during his seven minutes and 41 seconds on the floor, scoring four points and four assists.
Simmons has only missed one full fixture – ironically also against Orlando last season – in his 84-game career.
Simmons’ fellow Australian Aron Baynes also left early during his Boston Celtics’ 103-101 win over New York Knicks, limping off the court with a sore hamstring.