The message from the Brooklyn Nets had always been simple — just give Ben Simmons time.
It had not always been that simple though, with Kyrie Irving suspended and Brooklyn desperately in need of the Simmons of old to emerge.
But with Irving back in the line-up on Monday Simmons put on a show in his best performance as a Net, scoring 22 points in a 127-115 win.
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Mon, 21 Nov
Monday November 21st
The Australian also had five assists and eight rebounds to make a difference on both ends of the floor and prove just how valuable he can be in Brooklyn’s potential title tilt.
Kevin Durant was stellar as usual with a team-high 26 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, and Irving — after an eight-game suspension without pay — had 14 points and five boards.
But it was Simmons who actually led the way for the Nets (8-9), who tied a season-high with 32 assists and shot a scorching 60.2 percent.
With starting center Nic Claxton out for personal reasons, Simmons started in the pivot against Steven Adams and outplayed the bruiser.
It marked Simmons’ first start since October 29. He’d been relegated by Jacque Vaughn to coming off the bench for his last five appearances, and missed five other games with a swollen left knee. Considering he’s in the middle year of a five-year max contract, getting him right is of paramount importance.
But ever since sitting out last Sunday’s loss against the Lakers, Simmons has posted season-best games in three straight. He’d given Nets fans a glimmer in Sacramento, a tease in Portland, and Sunday against the depleted Grizzlies he finally looked like his former All-Star self for the first time.
In a game with six ties and 13 lead changes, Brooklyn trailed 67-62 on a Dillon Brooks 3 but used an 8-0 run — all by Durant and Irving — to take the lead. They never trailed again.
Memphis played without Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson and backup Danny Green. But the Nets will take any win they can get.
It was perfect timing for Simmons, who now prepares to face former teammates in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Durant dominates in Nets thrilling win 01:03
“In Philly? Come on, I know what’s coming,” he laughed when asked if enough time had passed for Sixers fans to be less vocal about their feelings at that game.
“One thing about Philly fans are incredible. They’re diehard Philly.”
But if Simmons plays like he does on Monday, he will almost certainly have the last laugh.
The Nets outscored the Grizzlies 39-31 in the third quarter — their highest scoring of the season — to take a 96-93 lead going into the fourth.
Brooklyn led 94-93 with 34.9 seconds left in the third and reeled off a 20-5 run that spanned the periods and put the game away.
Simmons pushed the ball and hit Yuta Watanabe (16 points) for a right-corner 3 and a 109-98 lead with 7:51 left. Watanabe hit another, and Durant’s alley oop made it 114-98. The rest was garbage time.
— with the New York Post
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