SIMMONS MAKES THE MOST OF HISTORIC NBA ALL-STAR DEBUT
BEN Simmons has made an impressive NBA AllStar debut playing a key role in turning around an 18-point deficit to steer his team to victory.
Simmons’s Team LeBron defeated Team Giannis 178-164 in Charlotte, North Carolina on despite trailing for most of the annual showcase of the NBA’s best players.
The top All-Star vote getters from the Western and Eastern Conferences, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, selected and captained their squads. Simmons had 10 points on five-from-five shooting, six rebounds and seven assists from just 16 minutes on the court.
“Being around so many great players, it makes you want to get better,” Simmons said.
The Melbourne-born 22-year-old and star of the Philadelphia 76ers was instrumental in two major runs, including a third-quarter 33-14 spurt with captain James and other starters on the bench, to set up the win. Team Giannis jumped to an early lead with Antetokounmpo repeatedly rattling the rim with dunks, including a spectacular alley-oop off an extraordinary bounce pass from Steph Curry.
Curry bounced the pass from one side of the key over his 206cm tall Golden State Warriors teammate, but All-Star opponent, Kevin Durant to Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 38 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Curry pulled off circus-like plays on his way to 17 points and seven assists. Team LeBron’s top scorer was Durant who posted 31 points and claimed the All- Star MVP award.