The Philadelphia 76ers remain unbeaten at home after securing a 109-104 win over the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center.
Trailing by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, Ben Simmons powered the 76ers into action as they took control of the game late in the fourth to move to 9-5 on the season.
Simmons recorded 18 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds, while Joel Embiid added 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in an impressive display from the 76ers young All-Star duo.
Here are the key takeaways from today's game:
Simmons lets it fly!
The drought is over!
The conversation surrounding Ben Simmons has always been pleading for him to attempt and make three-pointers....well today he did both.
Early in the first quarter, Simmons got the ball in the corner and without hesitation rose up and buried the first three-pointer of his career, sending the home crowd into hysterics.
🇦🇺 @BenSimmons25 connects from the three-point line! 🎯 #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/U5JuRbvoCQ
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) November 21, 2019
Simmons entered the game shooting 0-of-17 on threes for his career (mostly late in the shot clock heaves) and while he didn't attempt another in the game, the relief of seeing the ball go down from distance, will no doubt give him confidence to keep shooting.
If Simmons can continue to take and make threes from the corner and slowly expand his game, the 76ers's offence could add a whole new wrinkle, forcing defenders to meet him at the perimeter and open up the middle for the likes of Embiid, Al Horford and Tobias Harris.
It was only one three-pointer, but boy was it a big one!
Simmons shines on both ends
While the talk of this game will be Simmons draining a three-pointer, he completely changed the game with his defensive effort.
After the Knicks came out of half-time on a scorching 15-0 run, the 76ers hit back in style, with Simmons leading the charge.
The Aussie got stops, pushed the pace and hounded the Knicks on the perimeter, with his energy spreading throughout the rest of the team.
"Energy, we had to pick our energy up and be more physical," Simmons said post-game. "I don't think we were physical enough in the first half, but we definitely picked it up."
The 76ers reeled off a 19-3 run late in the third and early in the fourth to take an 83-82 lead and seize momentum and control of the game.
👌 @JamesDa_Truth 👌
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 21, 2019
📱 https://t.co/0Z17zPrHXt | @FOXBet pic.twitter.com/2GAIRtLyqO
On a night where they struggled to get into a consistent flow, they encouragingly only committed 10 turnovers and had 30 assists on their 39 made field goals. Simmons only had one turnover to go with his 13 assists.
Bench gives 76ers huge lift
With starters Al Horford and Furkan Korkmaz combining for just nine points on 4-of-16 shooting, the 76ers desperately needed something from their second unit and they more than delivered.
James Ennis III, Mike Scott and Trey Burke all provided valuable contributions off the bench, with Ennis recording 11 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Burke finished with nine points and two assists.
🗣 GET OUT @JamesDa_Truth'S WAY pic.twitter.com/bdqHTIyNSf
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 21, 2019
Scott scored 12 points on the night, all from the three-point line, coming up huge down the stretch. With the game in the balance, he buried his fourth three-pointer of the night to give the 76ers a 99-95 lead with 1:27 remaining, effectively sealing the W.
Entering tonight's game, the 76ers were 25th in the league in bench scoring, averaging 31.2 points per game, with the second unit combining for 45 points against the Knicks.
Ennis III and Scott were particularly crucial in the 76ers comeback, with their hustle and willingness to take and make big shots, exactly what coach Brett Brown will want more of.