NBA news: Ben Simmons sets Brooklyn equal-season high as Net break franchise records in win over San Antonio
The Brooklyn Nets winning streak rolls on and Aussie Ben Simmons was, once again, a key figure, this time in a franchise-record demolition of San Antonio.
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Wheelin’ and dealin’ Ben Simmons has dished out an Nets’ equal-season-high nine first-half assists as Brooklyn extended its win streak to 12 with a franchise-record annihilation of San Antonio.
The Aussie reached 500 career steals with three thefts in front of French FIFA World Cup finalist Kylian Mbappe, who was courtside at the Barclays Centre during the 139-103 win.
The 36-point win was the Nets’ biggest-ever over the Spurs, eclipsing the previous high margin of 26, way back in 1993.
While Simmons still showed a mild allergy to putting the ball in the hoop, it isn’t so much a problem with two of the best scorers on the planet in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving alongside him.
The 26-year-old’s nine first-half assists equalled Durant’s November mark against the Knicks and his work on the defensive end helped the Nets stifle any hope the Spurs had of a comeback.
“Ben was doing a good job getting everyone involved and it was a team effort tonight,” Nets guard Seth Curry said, post game.
Simmons finished with four points, nine assists and three steals, while Aussie teammate and former Spur Patty Mills had a quiet night off the bench with two points and four dimes.
Irving poured in 21 of his game-high 27 points in the first half, including a highlight reel tip jam, part of a 14-0 run, and the game was basically over at the long break as the Nets leapt out to a 27-point lead. Durant had 25 and 11 assists in the demolition.
It was the fifth time this season the Nets had shot better than 60 per cent from the field — a franchise record — and have won 16 of their last 17.
Brooklyn now needs two more wins to equal its all-time mark of 14, which it has achieved twice previously.
CAV JOINS RARE AIR
Cleveland Cavaliers’ scoring machine Donovan Mitchell, on Tuesday, produced an all-time performance against Chicago, becoming just the seventh player in NBA history to eclipse 70 points.
Mitchell’s 71-point 11 assist double-double came in a 145-134 overtime win. The feisty guard shot 22-34 from the field, including seven three pointers, and hit 20 of his 25 freebies in the nuclear performance.
The Cavs exploded in the extra period with a 15-4 run to end the game. Demar DeRozan had 44 points for the Bulls.
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Originally published as NBA news: Ben Simmons sets Brooklyn equal-season high as Net break franchise records in win over San Antonio
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