Simmons frustrates rival into bizarre headbutt
A red-hot Ben Simmons turned on the style against Detroit so much so that a rival player resorted to headbutting the Aussie star.
Sure, the Philadelphia star was laughing about the incident and the ‘headbutt’ was no more than a playful tap, but it proved how effectively the 76ers guard had rattled the Pistons.
The incident in question came in the fourth quarter, with the 76ers up 91-845 and coasting towards a comfortable victory.
Simmons drove in to the rim from the baseline, zipping past two hapless Detroit defensive players and drawing a foul before making a neat lay-up.
Pistons star Andre Drummond had clearly seen enough of Simmons’ fancy footwork by this stage of the match, sidling over to the Aussie and pressing his head against his chest.
The incident was more a plead for mercy, than an aggressive gesture as Simmons’ men romped away with a comfortable 116-102 win.
The reigning rookie of the year scored his 400th point of the season during an 11-point first quarter to become the first player this season with at least 400 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists.
Joel Embiid scored 24 points in his return to the 76ers lineup after a one-game absence to lead his side’s attack.
Simmons and Furkan Korkmaz each added 18 points, with the 76ers beating the Pistons for the second time in four days.
Jimmy Butler, who had 38 points to lead Philadelphia to a 117-111 victory in Detroit on Friday, exited in the first half with a strained groin and did not return.
Luke Kennard finished with a career-high 28 points and Andre Drummond had 21 for the slumping Pistons (13-12), who have dropped five straight after five consecutive wins.
Detroit was missing Blake Griffin, 10th in the NBA in scoring.
Griffin, who had 50, 38 and 31 points against the Sixers this season, was rested after Detroit hosted New Orleans the previous night.
Embiid was given his own night off to rest at Detroit on Friday after the 7-foot-2 star grew frustrated with his role following three straight sub-20-point performances.
The star centre clearly loves playing against Detroit, averaging 32 points in three contests against the Pistons this season.
Highlighted by a couple of Simmons’ dunks, the Sixers scored 38 points in opening quarter and led by as many as 15 in the first half.
The Pistons pulled within five early in the fourth quarter before an emphatic dunk by Embiid and Simmons’ three-point play helped Philly pull away for its 10th win in the last 12 games.
Korkmaz and T.J. McConnell both delivered big buckets off the bench in the second half. McConnell finished with 14 points and six assists.
Butler goes down injured in win
Philadelphia star recruit Jimmy Butler left the match against the Pistons after straining his groin in the first half.
Butler missed all three of his shots and grabbed four rebounds in 10 minutes of action before leaving the game.
Philadelphia acquired four-time All-Star Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves last month in exchange for a package centred around Robert Covington and Dario Saric.
Butler has averaged 21.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 12 games with the 76ers.
The 29-year-old has also shot 49.5 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range during his time in Philadelphia.
With agencies
