Ben Simmons hits three as 76ers shooting woes exposed in Cavaliers loss

Ben Simmons continued his hot offensive form, combining with Joel Embiid for 66 points, but even that wasn’t enough for the Sixers.

Ben Simmons is doing the best he can.

Ben Simmons has nailed a three-pointer but it wasn’t enough for his Philadelphia 76ers as the teams’ shooting woes were once again exposed.

A 112-109 loss to the 13-22 Cleveland Cavaliers showed just how tough it would be for the Sixers without their shooters firing.

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While Simmons has copped a lot of criticism in his NBA career so far, the 2020-21 Sixers added the likes of Seth Curry and Danny Green to hit the three-pointers, but when they can’t, it appears Joel Embiid and Simmons can only do so much.

The team’s superstars were on fire with Embiid hitting 42 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Simmons added 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists but Shake Milton was the only other Sixer to tally double figures with 11 points.

Curry hit just one from seven attempts from three with just four points for the game, while Danny Green had three from eight and Furkan Korkmaz had one from five from beyond the arc.

Ben Simmons shows his shooters how it’s done.

So when Simmons nailed his three pointer with two seconds left in overtime with the Cavaliers up by six, fans were quick to get behind Simmons fourth three-pointer in the NBA.

Ben Simmons scored a three at the buzzer in a six-point game and reminded me of the "You've had this pair of extra gloves the whole time?" scene in Dumb and Dumber. pic.twitter.com/gLwT3XL3RV

— Çetin Cem Yılmaz (@cetincem) February 28, 2021

The fact that the Cavs ML (+475) win isn’t the most shocking outcome from this game is impressive. Ben Simmons hits the meaningless 3 with almost no time left in OT for the over!! 🤯pic.twitter.com/OmWmKsENAD

— TSN EDGE (@TSN_Edge) February 28, 2021

Ben Simmons had as many three pointers made tonight as Seth Curry and Furkan Korkmaz.

— Tom Dougherty (@todougherty) February 28, 2021

Ben Simmons hitting a three > Winning the game

— Gil🍈 (@eLevateMunoz) February 28, 2021

And, of course, a game the Sixers couldn’t hit a shot in ends with Ben Simmons swishing a 3-pointer.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 28, 2021

Ben Simmons needs to take three 3’s every game until further notice. #Sixers

— Marcus Hayes (@inkstainedretch) February 28, 2021

Simmons with a 3. Of course. Embiid with 42. All for naught. #HereTheyComepic.twitter.com/oShs7wy5Pp

— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) February 28, 2021

From the outset, it didn’t seem like the Sixers had their head in the game with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey tweeted coach Doc Rivers called for his team to ”wake up”.

Post-match, he added: “We were running our offence like a walk thru”.

Simmons agreed the side came out very flat.

“We definitely didn’t have the energy,” Simmons said. “You know, those bursts are developing. Obviously, you’re not going to have that energy all game. We got a little down time, or we’re looking for that (All-Star) break coming up, but we got to finish this first half and grind it up.”

The loss sees the Sixers just half a game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets at the top of the NBA’s Eastern Conference.