Simmons’ Nets stretch winning streak to nine in style

BEN Simmons’ Brooklyn Nets have roared into championship calculations after extending their NBA-best winning run to nine with a 125-117 win over Eastern Conference rivals Cleveland on Tuesday.

Kevin Durant (32 points, nine rebounds and five assists) and Kyrie Irving (32 points, four rebounds, and five assists) starred as Brooklyn leapfrogged the Cavaliers and moved within striking distance of the Bucks and Celtics atop the conference standings.

The Nets’ incredible winning streak – the organisation’s best since 2006, before the move to Brooklyn – has been built on high-scoring offence, which now ranks topfive in the NBA. But the defensive end has also shown a marked improvement since Steve Nash was axed – and Simmons’ form is one of the reasons why.

Fresh from a near tripledouble showing against the Bucks, which many hailed his best in a Nets jersey after shutting out Giannis Antetokounmpo in the fourth quarter, Simmons clocked in with nine rebounds and eight assists to go with four points to help see off a plucky Cavs in Cleveland.

Superstars Durant and Irving have shouldered much of the scoring load during the Nets’ winning run and did so once again to see off the Cavs’ late charge But the pair have been full of praise for Simmons’ role in returning Brooklyn to contenders and it’s on the back of that trio that the Nets are riding high into the New Year.

Brooklyn is 20-7 since Jacque Vaughn took over in November and only Philadelphia has matched the Nets’ recent winning run, which includes a 30-point thumping of the Warriors and an 18-point win over the Bucks.

The Cavs offered another test of the Nets’ credentials when, after falling behind by 17 points in the second quarter, Cleveland rallied to get within one off the back of some Darius Garland magic.

But Brooklyn responded with an 18-4 scoring run of their own to close out the half.