Simmons leads the way with 31 points!
By Justin Batiste
Game 3 tonight, Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers looked a lot similar to game 2. The 76ers came out prepared to play and controlled the game from start to finish. Although, the Sixers were without center, Joel Embiid, they didn’t let this problem have an effect on tonight’s’ game. Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and J.J Redick really stepped up their play in the absence of Embiid tonight.
As for the Nets, D’Angelo Russell played a descent game for his standards. He had his moments here and there, same for Spencer Dinwiddie. But it was Nets, forward, Caris Levert who was the bright spot for this Nets team tonight. Levert had a team high of 26 points. In the first half, there was one point where Levert scored 14 straight points. Levert was scoring from inside and out giving the Nets the spark they needed, but it wasn’t enough to get them the win.
Part of the reason for the Nets loss was due to the best player on the court tonight in Ben Simmons. After going through adversity before the game, Simmons responded with an immense night. Simmons finished the game with a game high of 31 points. Simmons impacted the game offensively and defensively. At one point in the game Simmons had an emphatic block on Caris Levert that would send the ball sailing out of bounds. All game Simmons continued to apply pressure on the Nets defense by constantly attacking the paint and creating good looks for his teammates, and the Sixers did a sound job of finishing Simmons assist.
The energy that the Sixers came out with was noticed from the start of the game. No one was settling. The Sixers knew that they had to set the tone from the beginning of the game, or the Nets would take advantage of them. There was one point where the Nets made a run at the end of the third quarter, but the Sixers didn’t fold. The Sixers stayed composed throughout the Nets strong push. A push that would cut the game down to single digits after being down by 15. However, the Sixers would find a way to rally enough stops towards the end of the game and leave Barclay’s center with a win. Game 4 will be played Saturday at 2:00 PM central time.
