Australian star Ben Simmons has had a rough night out in his return to the NBA, scoring just four points and fouling out of the Brooklyn Nets’ season-opening loss to New Orleans.
Key points:
- Ben Simmons attempted three field goals and missed his only free throws of the game
- Simmons’s job was made harder by having to defend New Orleans star Zion Williamson (25 points).
- Simmons missed the entire 2021-22 season with back and mental health issues
After earning some plaudits in the preseason for his defense on two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Simmons came up against one of the few players in the league who could be considered as physically imposing, spending most of his time on the court defending Zion Williamson.
Simmons fouled out early in the fourth quarter with four points, five assists and five rebounds, and the team was outscored by 26 points in his 23 minutes on the court as the Nets were well beaten 130-108 by the Pelicans.
Simmons missed all of last season with Philadelphia due to back and mental health issues, ensuring all eyes were on the three-time All Star’s first regular-season minutes since an unceremonious exit from the 76ers.
And the 26-year-old did nothing to turn around his critics against the impressive Pelicans, who were buoyed by the performance of their own fit-again powerhouse forward, Williamson (25 points, nine rebounds, three assists, four steals).
He bullied Simmons around the rim, pushed past him at will and drew fouls to assert dominance and build a 26-point lead on the road.
Simmons took just three shots from the field — the first of those a wide-open dunk — his shooting yips didn’t help when he missed the only two free throws he attempted.
Boomers captain Patty Mills (16 points with four of nine from three-point range) was a bright spot for the Nets, while 19-year-old Australian rookie Dyson Daniels (two assists) earned his first NBA minutes late in the final quarter for the Pelicans.
In Minnesota, Josh Giddey began his second season with the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double in a tight 115-108 loss to the Timberwolves.
AAP
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