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NBA Wrap: Ben Simmons snatches his shoe back; Greek Freak’s stunning revelation; Insane OT thiller

Aussie NBA star Ben Simmons created a firestorm after ripping his sneakers out of a shocked fan’s hands. But he had a good reason.

Andrew McMurtry
4 min read
February 15, 2019 - 6:00AM
May have been these shoes.
May have been these shoes.

Ben Simmons is having a tough time of it lately.

The 22-year-old Aussie All-Star has been posterised twice in the past two games ahead of the All-Star break and his history-making appearance as the first Aussie in the game.

But Simmons set Twitter alight after seemingly tearing one of his shoes worn in the game away from a fan he was handing it to.

The stunned look on the man’s face reflected how social media felt about the moment.

The exchange led to some fired up tweets but there was much more behind the moment, which Simmons clarified and revealed a much sweeter reason behind the abrupt snatch.

But social media users still weren’t happy about the moment and kept lobbing bombs in Simmons direction, the star did nothing but handle it all like a pro.

He was even able to shame Nic Naitanui who got Simmons’ Aussie teammate Jonah Bolden’s name wrong, even though the West Coast Eagles AFL star was able to get back in the NBA stars good graces.

Philadelphia secured a 126-111 win over the New York Knicks, who have sunk to a franchise-low 18 consecutive regular-season losses.

It takes the 76ers to 37-21 ahead of the All-Star break.

GREEK FREAK’S STUNNING REVELATION

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks over Pacers forward Thaddeus Young.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks over Pacers forward Thaddeus Young.

Greek freak Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed just one team didn’t scout him — piling on the pain on the New York Knicks’ horror season.

Antetokounmpo was an incredible prospect and went with the 15th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft to the Milwaukee Bucks, the team he has been dominating with.

The three-time All-Star and 2019 All-Star captain’s agent Giorgos Panou said just one team didn’t go for the superstar — the 10-46 Knicks.

Antetokounmpo didn’t have much buzz around him to start until Panou contacted Jonathan Givony, who previously ran Draft Express and now works at ESPN.

Givony went to Greece to watch Antetokounmpo and posted highlights of the superstar on Draft Express, which started a feeding frenzy.

“Scouts started flying to Greece,” Panou said. “Every day at practice, at games, executives, GMs, assistant coaches — every team came. Twenty-nine teams, except the Knicks, New York Knicks.”

Asked if Pacers’ forward Thaddeus Young could contain him, Antetokounmpo was honest.

“I’m not trying to sound arrogant and cocky because that’s not who I am, but, I don’t think there’s one guy who can stop me,” Antetokounmpo said.

“It’s got to be the whole team effort. They got to load, they got to double team me, when I get to the paint, three guys swarm at me, that’s the only way. They gotta all work together to stop me from making plays.”

INCREDIBLE OT THRILLER STUNS NBA

DeMarre Carroll saved the day for the Brooklyn Nets, and D’Angelo Russell took advantage of the extra opportunity.

Russell scored 14 of his 36 points in the third overtime period after Carroll’s desperation three-pointer in the second OT tied the game, and the Nets outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 148-139 on Thursday.

Russell’s big finish wouldn’t have been possible if Carroll hadn’t shocked everyone with his buzzer-beating shot.

Brooklyn Nets' D'Angelo Russell took advantage of the extra minutes.
Brooklyn Nets' D'Angelo Russell took advantage of the extra minutes.

The fact the play wasn’t even designed for Carroll made the result even more improbable.

“It was for Joe (Harris) or Allen (Crabbe),” he said. “It was a broken play. I saw an opening and I took it.”

Cleveland seemed to have sealed the win when Jordan Clarkson, who scored a career-high 42 points, made a go-ahead jumper in the final minute to put the Cavaliers ahead and added two free throws for a 128-125 lead.

Brooklyn called time-out and Carroll was double-teamed in the corner after taking the inbounds pass.

He took a couple of dribbles to his left and put up the shot. Carroll fell to the floor and was mobbed by his teammates, who stormed off the bench.

Russell, who is headed to play in his first All-Star game, had two points in the first half but scored Brooklyn’s first 11 points in third overtime, including two three-pointers.

Russell’s teammates pulled him aside at halftime with a clear message.

“They kept pushing me,” he said. “They weren’t letting me get down. I made sure I got the ball.”

Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said: “He was really strong in the second half and all the overtimes, but that’s the sign of an All-Star.”

Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton drives past Brooklyn Nets' Joe Harris.
Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton drives past Brooklyn Nets' Joe Harris.

Harris scored 25 points and Carroll had 18 as the Nets improved to 30-29 — above .500 at the All-Star break for the first time since 2012-13.

The teams were playing their final game before the break, likely a good thing after going 63 minutes in a contest that saw 23 lead changes.

Clarkson, playing a career-high 47 minutes, was 16 of 34 from the field and made 7 of 17 3-point attempts.

“We tried to leave everything on the floor trying to get a win knowing we’ve got these days off,” he said. “We didn’t expect to go to three overtimes. But I’m in shape. I’ll go all day.” Collin Sexton had 24 points and Marquese Chriss added 23 for Cleveland.

The Cavaliers (12-46) were trying to win consecutive games for the third time this season. Cleveland has the third-worst record in the league.

— AP

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Originally published as NBA Wrap: Ben Simmons snatches his shoe back; Greek Freak’s stunning revelation; Insane OT thiller

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/us-sports/nba/nba-wrap-ben-simmons-snatches-his-shoe-back-greek-freaks-stunning-revelation-insane-ot-thiller/news-story/458939c9f9cea6249a51bc0b54feca0b