Simmons guides Sixers

BEN Simmons’s fifth triple-double of the season led the way in Philadelphia’s 118-111 win over visitors Chicago.

Simmons finished the game with 19 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, although his game was blighted by seven turnovers, while Furkan Korkmaz starred off the bench with a game-high 31 points.

Joel Embiid added 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots for his 30th double-double of the campaign as the 76ers won their 10th in a row at Wells Fargo Center to improve their league-best home record to 24-2. Zach LaVine scored 32 points and Luke Kornet added 25 for the short-handed Bulls, who ha1ve lost five in a row.

The game marked the third annual Australian Heritage Night hosted by the Sixers, in conjunction with renowned Australian brand Four’N Twenty, for which Simmons is an ambassador, with funds raised this year aiding the bushfire relief.

In Houston, Bojan Bogdanovic was kept in check for most of the game but made a threepointer as time expired to give Utah a 114-113 victory over the Rockets.

Joe Ingles (three points) attempted just two three-pointers in the game as Jordan Clarkson led Jazz scorers with 30 points to keep them fourth, one spot above Houston in the western conference.

Russell Westbrook had 39 points for the Rockets while James Harden added 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Kemba Walker scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 26 as Boston squeezed by Oklahoma City 112-111.

Lou Williams scored 25 points and Paul George had 22 as the Los Angeles Clippers took an easy 133-92 road victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.