Simmons leads 76ers past Wizards; Westbrook injured
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Ben Simmons put a spin move on Russell Westbrook that sent him sprawling to the floor several minutes before an ankle injury sent the NBA's triple-double king to the locker room and nearly into the stands to confront a misbehaving fan.
With Simmons soaring and Westbrook ailing, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 120-95 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Game 3 is Saturday night at Washington.
Westbrook went down after colliding with Furkan Korkmaz early in the fourth quarter. He limped off the floor and then was restrained by security after a fan threw popcorn at him as he was headed under the tunnel.
''We'll see,'' Westbrook said about his availability for the next game. ''Hurt it twice in a short amount of time. We'll see what happens.''
As for the incident with the fan, Westbrook said: ''I wouldn't come up to me on the street and throw popcorn on my head, because you know what happens. ... In these arenas, you gotta start protecting the players. We'll see what the NBA does.''
Valerie Camillo, president of business operations for the Wells Fargo Center rebuked the fan in a statement.
''This was classless, unacceptable behavior, and we're not going to tolerate it at Wells Fargo Center,'' Camillo said.
LeBron James spoke out about it on Twitter: ''By the way WE AS THE PLAYERS wanna see who threw that popcorn on Russ while he was leaving the game tonight with a injury!! There's cameras all over arenas so there's no excuse!''
Simmons and Joel Embiid each scored 22 points and Tobias Harris added 19 for the top-seeded Sixers. Simmons added nine rebounds and eight assists after becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to have at least 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a playoff game in a 125-118 win in Game 1
The three-time All-Star still heard plenty of criticism in Philadelphia following that stellar performance because he only scored six points and missed all six of his free throws.
Simmons was aggressive from the start, scoring the team's first two baskets on his way to 12 points in the first quarter, including three dunks.
He said he wasn't trying to prove a point but rather making plays available.
''I thought it was pretty hard to get 15 assists and 15 rebounds in the NBA in the playoffs,'' he said. ''That's pretty impressive. And we won. ... I don't know. For me, I'm here to win, and I'm doing what I need to do to help my team win. A lot of these (critics) never played basketball at a high level.''
Bradley Beal had 33 points and Westbrook finished with 10 points and 11 assists for sub-.500 Washington.
Embiid scored on a driving layup, got knocked to the floor and sank a free throw to complete a three-point play in the final minute of the second quarter. Dwight Howard led the crowd's chants of ''M-V-P! M-V-P!'' for Embiid, who raised both hands and soaked in the adoration.
The Sixers withstood 24 first-half points from Beal in the first half and led 71-57 at halftime. They maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half.
Embiid was happy to see Simmons take advantage when Washington chose to double-team him.
''With the way they were guarding me, guys were open and he was the recipient of that,'' Embiid said. ''He was aggressive. I told him: `You have all the space in the world. Just attack and be aggressive.'''
TIP-INS
Wizards: Have lost all five games vs. Philadelphia this season. ... Davis Bertans fouled out in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. He had no points in 24 minutes.
76ers: Pat Croce, who was team president when the Sixers reached the 2001 NBA Finals, fired up the fans when he rang the ceremonial bell to start the game. .. They're 28-5 with Simmons, Embiid, Harris, Seth Curry and Danny Green in the starting lineup. .... Curry left the game with left ankle soreness. ... Meek Mill sat courtside.
THE STEPOVER
Croce's Sixers lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals 20 years ago but his favorite memory from that season came in the series-opening win on the road. Allen Iverson scored 48 points to lead Philly over the Lakers in Game 1 and made highlight reels for eternity when he nailed a jumper in the corner and stepped over Tyronn Lue on his way back upcourt.
''Bubba Chuck stepping over Tyronn Lue to me is the epitome of the whole season,'' Croce said.
NOT THE FIRST TIME
Philly fans have mistreated Westbrook in the past. A few years ago, a fan was ejected for making an obscene gesture with both hands at Westbrook.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Alex Len vs. Joel Embiid (Seth Curry gains possession) | |||
11:40 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point driving layup | 0-2 | |
11:28 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 2-2 | |
11:17 | Tobias Harris misses two point jump shot | |||
11:17 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
11:17 | Rui Hachimura personal foul (Loose ball) (Ben Simmons draws the foul) | |||
11:08 | Seth Curry misses three point jump shot | |||
11:02 | Ben Simmons offensive rebound | |||
11:02 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point putback layup | 2-4 | |
10:51 | Russell Westbrook misses two point layup | |||
10:49 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point layup | 2-6 | |
10:16 | +2 | Alex Len makes two point finger roll layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 4-6 | |
10:08 | +2 | Joel Embiid makes two point jump shot | 4-8 | |
9:50 | Raul Neto misses three point jump shot | |||
9:48 | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | |||
9:45 | Seth Curry misses three point jump shot | |||
9:42 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
9:35 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point driving layup (Rui Hachimura assists) | 6-8 | |
9:19 | +3 | Seth Curry makes three point jump shot | 6-11 | |
9:11 | Russell Westbrook misses two point jump shot | |||
9:08 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
8:56 | Joel Embiid misses two point driving layup | |||
8:55 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
8:53 | Tobias Harris shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
8:53 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-11 | |
8:53 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-11 | |
8:36 | Danny Green misses three point jump shot | |||
8:33 | Raul Neto defensive rebound | |||
8:25 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point layup (Raul Neto assists) | 10-11 | |
8:04 | Joel Embiid misses three point jump shot | |||
8:02 | Alex Len defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point step back jump shot | 12-11 | |
7:45 | Joel Embiid misses two point jump shot | |||
7:45 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
7:45 | Raul Neto personal foul (Loose ball) (Ben Simmons draws the foul) | |||
7:41 | Rui Hachimura personal foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
7:33 | +2 | Danny Green makes two point reverse layup (Seth Curry assists) | 12-13 | |
7:28 | Danny Green personal foul (Raul Neto draws the foul) | |||
7:13 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 14-13 | |
6:52 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point turnaround jump shot | 14-15 | |
6:45 | Russell Westbrook misses two point jump shot | |||
6:42 | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | |||
6:35 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 14-17 | |
6:25 | Ben Simmons blocks Bradley Beal's two point finger roll layup | |||
6:25 | 76ers defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
6:06 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point jump shot | 14-19 | |
5:54 | Bradley Beal misses two point floating jump shot | |||
5:49 | Alex Len offensive rebound | |||
5:49 | +2 | Alex Len makes two point putback layup | 16-19 | |
5:37 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point alley-oop layup (Joel Embiid assists) | 16-21 | |
5:25 | Danny Green blocks Alex Len's two point layup | |||
5:21 | Danny Green defensive rebound | |||
5:16 | Ben Simmons misses two point floating jump shot | |||
5:13 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
5:01 | Ish Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
4:57 | Raul Neto offensive rebound | |||
4:55 | Davis Bertans misses three point jump shot | |||
4:51 | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | |||
4:50 | Alex Len personal foul (Ben Simmons draws the foul) | |||
4:25 | +2 | Seth Curry makes two point jump shot (Ben Simmons assists) | 16-23 | |
4:13 | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point jump shot | 18-23 | |
4:03 | Ben Simmons misses two point finger roll layup | |||
4:03 | 76ers offensive rebound | |||
4:03 | Ben Simmons turnover (traveling) | |||
3:43 | Raul Neto misses two point jump shot | |||
3:41 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
3:32 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point driving dunk | 18-25 | |
3:23 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point floating jump shot | 20-25 | |
3:15 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
3:00 | Matisse Thybulle misses two point hook shot | |||
2:55 | Ben Simmons offensive rebound | |||
2:55 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point putback dunk | 20-27 | |
2:41 | Daniel Gafford turnover (lost ball) (George Hill steals) | |||
2:37 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point dunk (George Hill assists) | 20-29 | |
2:31 | Joel Embiid shooting foul (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | |||
2:31 | Daniel Gafford misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
2:31 | Wizards offensive rebound | |||
2:31 | +1 | Daniel Gafford makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-29 | |
2:14 | Shake Milton misses three point jump shot | |||
2:10 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Russell Westbrook misses two point hook shot | |||
1:57 | Dwight Howard defensive rebound | |||
1:45 | Shake Milton misses two point floating jump shot | |||
1:43 | Dwight Howard offensive rebound | |||
1:41 | Dwight Howard turnover (lost ball) (Daniel Gafford steals) | |||
1:39 | Ish Smith misses two point layup | |||
1:39 | 76ers defensive rebound | |||
1:20 | +3 | Matisse Thybulle makes three point jump shot (Shake Milton assists) | 21-32 | |
1:06 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point alley-oop dunk (Chandler Hutchison assists) | 23-32 | |
0:53 | Davis Bertans shooting foul (Dwight Howard draws the foul) | |||
0:53 | +1 | Dwight Howard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-33 | |
0:53 | Dwight Howard misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:51 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
0:43 | Chandler Hutchison misses two point floating jump shot | |||
0:41 | Dwight Howard defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | Shake Milton turnover (palming) | |||
0:31 | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | |||
0:28 | Dwight Howard defensive rebound | |||
0:09 | +2 | Furkan Korkmaz makes two point jump shot (Shake Milton assists) | 23-35 | |
0:02 | Dwight Howard shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
0:02 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-35 | |
0:02 | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:00 | Dwight Howard defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:51 | Davis Bertans misses three point jump shot | |||
11:48 | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | |||
11:44 | Matisse Thybulle blocks Davis Bertans's three point jump shot | |||
11:39 | George Hill defensive rebound | |||
11:20 | +2 | George Hill makes two point jump shot | 24-37 | |
11:03 | +2 | Ish Smith makes two point jump shot | 26-37 | |
10:43 | Davis Bertans personal foul (George Hill draws the foul) | |||
10:37 | Daniel Gafford blocks Shake Milton's two point driving layup | |||
10:34 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
10:30 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point driving layup (Ish Smith assists) | 28-37 | |
10:30 | Matisse Thybulle shooting foul (Rui Hachimura draws the foul) | |||
10:30 | Rui Hachimura misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
10:27 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
10:09 | Tobias Harris turnover (bad pass) (Bradley Beal steals) | |||
10:05 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point finger roll layup | 30-37 | |
9:49 | Matisse Thybulle misses three point jump shot | |||
9:47 | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | |||
9:45 | Dwight Howard shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
9:45 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-37 | |
9:45 | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:43 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
9:29 | Shake Milton misses two point jump shot | |||
9:25 | Dwight Howard offensive rebound | |||
9:22 | +2 | Dwight Howard makes two point putback layup | 31-39 | |
9:20 | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point alley-oop layup (Russell Westbrook assists) | 33-39 | |
9:20 | Shake Milton shooting foul (Daniel Gafford draws the foul) | |||
9:20 | Daniel Gafford misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
9:18 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
8:58 | George Hill misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:56 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
8:46 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 35-39 | |
8:30 | +2 | Tobias Harris makes two point jump shot | 35-41 | |
8:19 | Russell Westbrook turnover (lost ball) (Tobias Harris steals) | |||
8:13 | George Hill turnover (out of bounds step) | |||
7:57 | Ish Smith misses two point jump shot | |||
7:55 | Joel Embiid defensive rebound | |||
7:48 | +3 | Joel Embiid makes three point jump shot (Ben Simmons assists) | 35-44 | |
7:45 | Wizards 60 second timeout | |||
7:34 | Rui Hachimura misses two point layup | |||
7:32 | Tobias Harris defensive rebound | |||
7:24 | Ben Simmons misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
7:24 | Danny Green offensive rebound | |||
7:19 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tobias Harris assists) | 35-46 | |
7:07 | +3 | Bradley Beal makes three point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 38-46 | |
7:00 | 76ers 60 second timeout | |||
6:53 | Robin Lopez personal foul (Joel Embiid draws the foul) | |||
6:40 | Joel Embiid misses two point jump shot | |||
6:38 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | +2 | Robin Lopez makes two point turnaround hook shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 40-46 | |
6:20 | Furkan Korkmaz turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
6:01 | Robin Lopez misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
5:55 | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | |||
5:55 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point putback dunk | 42-46 | |
5:49 | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point dunk | 42-48 | |
5:40 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point floating jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 44-48 | |
5:28 | Ben Simmons misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
5:26 | Davis Bertans defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 46-48 | |
5:04 | +3 | Joel Embiid makes three point jump shot (Danny Green assists) | 46-51 | |
4:51 | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Ben Simmons steals) | |||
4:46 | +2 | Furkan Korkmaz makes two point finger roll layup (Ben Simmons assists) | 46-53 | |
4:30 | Danny Green shooting foul (Bradley Beal draws the foul) | |||
4:30 | Bradley Beal misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:30 | Wizards offensive rebound | |||
4:30 | +1 | Bradley Beal makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-53 | |
4:07 | +2 | Seth Curry makes two point floating jump shot (Joel Embiid assists) | 47-55 | |
3:58 | +2 | Robin Lopez makes two point dunk (Russell Westbrook assists) |