Philly makes Ben Simmons’ Nets bite the dust –

Losing comeback for Ben Simmons. Passed from Philadelphia to Brooklyn last year, the Australian leader again bit the dust with the Nets on the floor of the Sixers (137-133), Wednesday in the NBA.

Losing comeback for Ben Simmons. Passed from Philadelphia to Brooklyn last year, the Australian leader again bit the dust with the Nets on the floor of the Sixers (137-133), Wednesday in the NBA.

Leaving “Philly” a year ago against a backdrop of tensions in the locker room with Joel Embiid, Simmons was again heckled by his former audience. And this tense reunion seemed to reflect on the floor, with a prolific and very tight first quarter (41-41) but also dotted with faults (13 in total).

A climate that did not please the coach of the Sixers, Doc Rivers, despite the victory.

“There is a difference between putting on the intensity and being overwhelmed by your emotions,” he commented.

“Honestly, I thought we tipped the wrong side tonight. We need to contain our emotions better,” Rivers said.

Faced with the Nets still deprived of Kevin Durant (knee), the doublet Joel Embiid-James Harden generally did the job, scoring 39 points. But it was Tyrese Maxey, off the bench, who was the Sixers’ top scorer (27 pts). Embiid also grabbed 10 rebounds.

In this hostile atmosphere, Ben Simmons was discreet (12 pts, 5 rebounds and 5 assists), leaving the leading roles to Seth Curry -Stephen’s brother- and Kyrie Irving (respectively 32 and 30 pts).

– Lillard (again) at 60 points –

On an upward slope this season, Philadelphia retains its 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 31 wins (16 losses), behind Boston (35-14) but still ahead of Milwaukee (31-17), winners at the same time of Denver (107-99).

Giannis Antetokounmpo put on a show with the Bucks (33 points and 14 rebounds).

Damian Lillard (#0), of the Portland Trail Blazers, during an NBA game on January 23, 2023 in Portland

Steph Chambers – GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives

But the biggest performance of the evening took place in Oregon, where Damian Lillard scored 60 points in Portland’s 134-124 victory against the Utah Jazz.

This is the 4th time in his career that the leader of the Blazers, author of a 21 of 29 shooting, scores 60 points or more.

“It was incredible. We don’t have the opportunity to witness that so often,” rightly noted his coach, Chauncey Billups. They are indeed only six players in the history of the NBA, including Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and James Harden, to have reached 60 points on several occasions.

– The Pelicans take a beak –

“Even when things weren’t going our way, I felt like I could bring us back into the game,” said Lillard, who will however have to multiply such feats to lead the Blazers to victory. in the playoffs.

Portland indeed occupies a modest 12th place in the West, just ahead of the LA Lakers, who won against San Antonio (113-104), a match in which LeBron James was content with a small double- doubles (20 pts, 11 assists).

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry (#30) during the NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 25, 2023 in San Francisco

Lachlan Cunningham – GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

In San Francisco, in the last game of the evening, Jordan Poole scored the winning basket (122-120) for the Golden State Warriors 2.4 seconds from the buzzer, against the Memphis Grizzlies.

A minute earlier, the NBA champions had lost their star Stephen Curry (34 pts), excluded for the third time in his career only after throwing his mouth guard to the ground, in a moment of frustration. In his defense, the game gave a panting crossover to the score.

Before that, the New Orleans Pelicans had once again sunk against Minnesota (102-111).

Without Zion Williamson, the Louisianans are six losses in a row. They remain fourth in the West but now see the pack growing in the rear view mirror.

AFP / Los Angeles (AFP) / © 2023 AFP