The Philadelphia 76ers received contributions from just about everybody on Friday night when they knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 115-104 to remain undefeated on their home floor. Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and Al Horford all had big games, but the All-Star point guard once again had a really solid night.
Ben Simmons poured in another triple-double of 10 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds and he made a lot of big defensive plays down the stretch. He also stepped up and made his free throws after the Spurs went with the infamous “Hack-a-Ben” strategy. It was another solid performance for Simmons following a good effort against the New York Knicks in the previous game.
Coach Brett Brown had a lot of praise for the team’s leader as he stated:
I see it in him, when he missed some free throws, it didn’t surprise me, like he was going to come back and make some. He doesn’t melt. Ben Simmons does not melt and I think that he, there’s an inner strength and confidence that I see at a young age that he bounces back.
Simmons ended up shooting 4-for-8 at the free-throw line after he missed three of his first four from the line. It showed off resilience and mental toughness to stay in it despite a tough start to the night from an area he’s got to improve in.
Brown added:
Whether it’s that or what I just said and many other instances that I can point to, I think that’s spirit, I think that’s his nature, that’s how he’s wired, and you have to be in this league if you want to attain the success that we and he hope to maintain and grow on.
Simmons’ next challenge is now taking on former teammate Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Saturday. [lawrence-related id=19870,19854,19845]