Harris leads Sixers past Simmons, Nets
PHILADELPHIA: Tobias Harris scored 24 points and a spirited Philadelphia 76ers team playing without Joel Embiid and James Harden spoiled Ben Simmons’ homecoming with a 115-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Simmons had 11 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds to the tune of steady boos. Kyrie Irving scored 23 points and Kevin Durant had 20 before coach Jacque Vaughn pulled his starting lineup with 3 minutes left in the game.
The expected marquee matchup was dimmed with Embiid out with a sprained left foot, Harden still out with a tendon strain in his right foot and starting guard Tyrese Maxey also out with a broken left foot.
Simmons was heckled, drew a flagrant foul, shushed the crowd on a layup, and even shrugged after hitting free throws. Most important for a player who has battled mental health issues, Simmons played with poise as boos rained on him for the bulk of his 32 minutes.
In Phoenix, Mikal Bridges and Devin Booker each scored 25 points to lead Phoenix past Los Angeles, 115-105.
The Suns, playing without point guard Chris Paul for the seventh straight game, have beaten the Lakers five straight times in the regular season and eight straight including the playoffs.
With 3:55 left in the game, the Lakers’ Patrick Beverley was ejected for shoving Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton following a foul called on Booker against Austin Reaves that was assessed a flagrant-1 after review. Booker later fouled out.
Anthony Davis had 37 points and 21 rebounds for the Lakers, who had won three in a row. It was Los Angeles’ fifth game in a row without LeBron James, out with a left adductor strain.
In Memphis, De’Aaron Fox had
32 points and eight rebounds, Harrison Barnes added 26 points and Sacramento won its seventh straight beating the Grizzlies, 113-109.
Ja Morant led Memphis with 34 points, six assists and seven rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 points and five blocks, and Dillon Brooks finished with 14 points as the Grizzlies lost their fourth of five.
In Denver, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points and Detroit snapped a sevengame skid, 110-108.