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Ben Simmons puts up monster 20-20 game in Sixers win over Knicks
InsideHoops.comJanuary 13, 2019
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With three starters scoring 20 or more points and a monster 20-20 game from Ben Simmons, the Sixers held on to beat the Knicks Sunday afternoon in New York, 108-105.Sixers starters were Ben Simmons, J.J. Redick, Jimmy Butler, Wilson Chandler and Joel Embiid, while the Knicks started Emmanuel Mudiay, Damyean Dotson, Kevin Knox, Lance Thomas and Noah Vonleh.
Simmons was at his best and missed a 20-20 triple-double by just one assist. He shot 10 of 13, for 20 points, 22 rebounds, nine assists and just two turnovers. Embiid wasn't as effective with his shot as usual, scoring 26 points but on 9 of 24 shooting, but he did grab eight rebounds and, most impressively, blocked six shots. Redick scored 22 in the win, on just 13 shot attempts. Butler contributed 16 points and eight rebounds. The rest of the Sixers roster scored seven points each or less.
For the Knicks, the season continues to be a part of a rebuilding process. The team fought hard and could have given up after falling behind 66-50 at the half. But the home squad rallied in the third, winning that quarter 32-17, and kept things tight through the end.
As is often the case, a bright spot for the Knicks was the play of one of their rookies. Today it was Knox's turn to shine: 31 points on 12 of 23 shooting, plus seven rebounds and two steals. It was a career-high scoring night for him ,and it also made him one of the youngest players in NBA history to put up a 30+ point game.
Kornet also had a nice game for New York, shooting 7 of 13 for 23 points, just five rebounds, but five assists -- a nice passing number for a center. Mudiay had 19 points, four rebounds and four assists. No other Knicks reached double-digit scoring. Frank Ntilikina came off bench to lead the Knicks in assists, with six.
The Sixers won today's rebounding battle in a big way: 56-34.
The game came down to a final shot: a 25-foot three-point attempt by Mudiay with one second left and the Knicks down three. A make would have sent the matchup into overtime. But Simmons grabbed the miss, and time expired.
The Sixers are now 28-16; the Knicks 10-33.
The Sixers now face an extremely tough stretch of opponents. Their next game is Tuesday at home against the Timberwolves, followed by a scary list of opponents: the Pacers, Thunder, Rockets, Spurs, Nuggets, Lakers and Warriors to wrap up play in January.
The Knicks now enjoy three days off, and resume action Thursday on the road against the Wizards.
Game Recap of New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in Madison Square Garden on Sunday, January 13, 2019.