SIMMONS LOGS 50-YEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE FEAT
WASHINGTON— Australia’s Ben Simmons achieved something not even those in the “greatest of all time” discussion—Michael Jordan and LeBron James—have after logging his first NBA triple double on Monday in only his fourth league game for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 21-year-old from Melbourne, last year’s NBA Draft top pick who missed all of last season with a right foot injury, scored 21 points, grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and dished off a game-high 10 assists for the Sixers in a 97-86 triumph at Detroit.
“I felt like I needed to just kind of take over and find guys and make plays,” Simmons said.
Simmons became the first NBA player in 50 years to manage a triple double—doubledigit game production in three statistical categories—within his first four league starts.
And he’s only the third NBA player to manage the achievement, joining Art “Hambone” Williams of the 1967-68 San Diego Rockets and Oscar Robertson of the 1960 Cincinnati Royals.
Those players went on to be- come NBA champions, Robertson with Milwaukee in 1971 and Williams with Boston in 1974.
The Aussie is also only the second player to open his NBA career with four double doubles, matching Robertson’s rookie run.
Cameroon big man Joel Embiid scored 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the 76ers, who took their first win of the season after three defeats.
“I’m just glad we won, honestly,” said Simmons. “That means so much more than stats for me.
“It’s awesome to have a triple-double but at the same time, it’s even better to win, especially with these guys and a young team like this.”
Simmons is averaging 15.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists through his first four NBA games.
“Him with the ball, able to do the things he does, produces a lot of these mismatches and numbers,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “We were able to post him—he’s able to see over pick-and-rolls—and you see how gifted he is in early offense and the open court.
Two-time MVP Stephen Curry scored a game-high 29 points while Kevin Durant added 25 points and Klay Thompson had 21 as the defending champion Golden State Warriors improved to 2-2 with a 133-103 rout at winless Dallas (0-4).
Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and Khris Middleton added 20 to lead the Milwaukee Bucks over visiting Charlotte, 103-94. The Greek has cracked 30 points in every game for the 3-1 Bucks.
With 147 points over the first four games of the season for the Bucks, Antetokounmpo broke the club’s four-game seasonopening scoring mark of 146 points by Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from 1972.
Mike Conley hit two 3pointers in a pivotal 13-0 Memphis run in the fourth quarter to help the Grizzlies rally past host Houston 98-90. Spaniard Marc Gasol led Memphis (3-0) with 26 points while Conley added 17.
In their first game after coach Earl Watson was fired following an 0-3 start, Phoenix outlasted Sacramento, 117-115, with interim coach Jay Triano guiding the Suns.