Ben Simmons went on an assists rampage.
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The Aussie recorded 10 assists in just 12 minutes in the first half of Brooklyn’s 107-105 away win over New Orleans on Tuesday (all times AEDT), with several highlight passes in an elite playmaking display.
It marked the fifth time in the 28-year old’s career — and second time for the Nets — he’s had 10 assists in any half.
He finished with six points on 3-of-5 shooting, 12 assists, five rebounds and two steals with a +8 plus/minus — the second-best of any Net — in 22 minutes off the bench.
Cam Thomas’ 17 points led seven Nets in double digit scoring, while Brandon Ingram topped all scorers with 24. It saw the Nets etch closer to .500, improving to 5-6 on the season.
Simmons, who’s been replaced in the Nets’ starting line-up by Nic Claxton, checked into Tuesday’s game with 6:35 remaining in the first quarter and quickly dished out two assists in under a minute.
With 4:46 left in the opening period, Simmons fed back-to-back triples via Cam Thomas and Noah Clowney to give the Nets their first lead of the game at 16-14.
Simmons “incredible” spin assist | 00:36
Simmons assisted on two more threes to Clowney then Keon Johnson before nailing a layup to help Brooklyn take a 26-22 lead at the end of the first quarter — with six assists to the Aussie’s name at that point.
Two of his four assists in the second term were to 3-pointers before he checked out of the game with 6:13 left in the half.
“Ten assists in just over 12 minutes. A big reason, you look at the Nets numbers — 14 assists on 15 made baskets. That’s an impressive looking stat,” Yes Network’s Sarah Kustok said.
Simmons put his high-level playmaking in the first half down to reading the play and finding open teammates.
“Just playing the flow of the game. My guys are getting open, making good cuts and spacing the floor and I was just finding them,” he told the Yes Network.
Simmons wasn’t as effective in the second half as the undermanned Pelicans — missing the likes of Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray — kept the Aussie more honest.
Simmons played six-straight minutes to close out the third quarter then another three-minute stretch in the fourth quarter before Nets coach Jordi Fernández closed with his regular starting line-up.
Back-to-back threes to Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas gave Brooklyn a 106-105 lead with 32.2 left in the fourth term as the visiting team was able to hold on down the stretch.
It marked New Orleans’ fifth-straight loss to fall to 3-8.
GIDDEY SHINES IN NARROW LOSS TO UNDEFEATED CAVS
Simmons wasn’t the only Aussie to shine on Tuesday.
Josh Giddey produced one of his best games yet for the Chicago Bulls, just falling short of a double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists with two 3-pointers and four turnovers.
But it wasn’t enough as Chicago lost 119-113 to the still undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers, who own the NBA’s best record at 12-0, in a game that went down to the wire.
Giddey, who shot an efficient 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-2 for the line, started the game particularly hot with 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting, five rebounds and two assists.
It marked Chicago’s fifth loss from its last six games to fall to 4-7 overall
The Bulls stayed with Cleveland for the whole game until Kenny Atkinson’s side started to break away in the fourth quarter.
The Cavs got out by 100-92 after a Georges Niang tip shot before Chicago responded with a 7-0 run.
Zach LaVine but the Bulls on his back down the stretch in a bid to guide them home, scoring a quick seven puts to tie up the scored at 106 apiece with 5:06 on the clock.
A Patrick Williams missed three that could’ve got Chicago back within a point with 47 seconds left was a crucial swing, with Darius Garland nailing a tough layup at the other end to shut the door on the home side.
The Cavs’ 12-straight wins marks their best ever start in franchise history. If they can improve to 13-0 when they visit Philadelphia on Thursday, it’d be Cleveland’s best ever win streak.
ELSEWHERE …
In other games on Tuesday, French star Victor Wembanyama cut loose with 34 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to help the San Antonio Spurs to a 116-96 blowout against the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento started brightly, moving into a 26-22 lead after the first quarter. But San Antonio took charge in the second quarter, pouring in 38 points including seven three-pointers to move into a lead that they never relinquished thereafter.
All of San Antonio’s starters post double-digit points tallies, with Julian Champagnie adding 13 points and veteran Chris Paul 12.
The Oklahoma City Thunder meanwhile bounced back from Monday’s home defeat to Golden State with a gutsy 134-128 home defeat of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Oklahoma City’s defeat on Monday had been overshadowed by a gloomy injury update to towering young star Chet Holmgren, who was confirmed to have suffered a fractured pelvis after falling to the court against the Warriors.
However the Thunder showed no sign of a hangover from that loss on Tuesday, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupting for a career-best 45 points in a virtuoso performance.
Jalen Williams added 28 points while Luguentz Dort finished with 19.
-With AFP
ALL RESULTS
KINGS 96 SPURS 115
CLIPPERS 128 THUNDER 134
NETS 107 PELICANS 105
WIZARDS 92 ROCKETS 107
CAVALIERS 119 BULLS 113
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