Ben Simmons made a highlight play to end the first half of Game 3 of the first-round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets.
Simmons converted an emphatic dunk to end the first half to give the Sixers a 65-59 lead over the Nets. The 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year closed out the half with a staredown, showing some emotions in the series, where he has heard a lot of criticisms.
SIMMONS STAREDOWN pic.twitter.com/Xd2KWTV7Au
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 19, 2019
The 22-year-old guard was a shadow of his usual self in the opening game of the 2019 NBA Playoffs first-round series. After averaging 16.9 points on top of 8.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in the regular season, Simmons had just nine points in 32 minutes. In turn, the 76ers took a 111-102 loss in the series opener.
He bounced back with a better performance in Game 2, where he finished with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field. He also added 12 assists and 10 rebounds, helping the 76ers run away with a 145-123 blowout win against the Nets to tie their best-of-seven series.
But despite having a big night in Game 2, Nets veteran Jared Dudley took a swipe at Simmons. Dudley said that Simmons is a great player in transition, and is just an average player when he is slowed down.
“I think that Ben Simmons is a great player in transition,” Dudley said of Simmons via James Herbert of CBS Sports. “Once you slow him up in the half court, I think he’s average when it comes to that.”
The Sixers would love to pick up the Game 3 win with Joel Embiid out of the lineup due to injury.
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