NBA Wrap: Simmons pips LeBron in thriller; Beal’s nightmare

If this is a preview of the NBA Finals, fans would be very pleased after Ben Simmons was on fire against LeBron James' Lakers.

LeBron was not happy.

Ben Simmons and LeBron James have put on a show as the pair went head-to-head in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 107-106 win over the LA Lakers.

The match went right down to the wire with Tobias Harris scoring off a jumper with 2.4 seconds remaining to hand the Lakers their first road loss of the season.

Watch Live coverage every week of the NBA Regular Season with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

The Sixers blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter as the Lakers took the lead with 11 seconds left but Philly finished off the win.

James scored a game-high 34 points and pulled Simmons’ pants down a few times but the Aussie starred with the 31st triple-double of his career and his third of the season.

Simmons scored 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists along with a steal and a block in the thrilling victory.

A few early Simmons vs. LeBron moments 🍿 pic.twitter.com/19cO0axIZ4

— ESPN (@espn) January 28, 2021

Like how both Embiid and Simmons have approached this on offense so far. With one exception all Embiid's moves have been quick and decisive, and Simmons put plenty of pressure on LeBron to work on D in the opening minutes

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) January 28, 2021

Joel Embiid also scored 28 points while Harris added 24, including the game winner.

While Simmons’ offence has been a big area of criticism, especially when it comes to his lack of a jump shot, coach Doc Rivers said Simmons was “unbelievable”.

“It’s funny, on his low scoring nights, you look at the game film and he’s flying all over the place,” Rivers said of Simmons. “The stuff he does for us. The winning things he does, it’s hard to put into numbers and unfortunately, we’re in this numbers generation where everything’s numbers, and his brilliance sometimes is missed by a lot of people.”

Ben Simmons was tasked with stopping LeBron.

While there was some criticism of Simmons throughout the night as the Lakers scored some cheap baskets, he was also given the task of defending James, Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder.

“I go out there and guard, typically, the best guy on the floor every night or somebody who’s gonna have a big impact in the game,” Simmons after the game. “I take pride in that. I’m not trying to go out and win awards, I personally take pride in going out and stopping guys and making it tough on them every night.

“It’s a big part of the game. They say defence wins championships so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

But the fans liked what they saw as Simmons and LeBron duked it out, with many wanting to see this clash again with something on the line.

Ben Simmons always shows up against LeBron. Gimmie 7 games of it.

— Dennis Chambers (@DennisChambers_) January 28, 2021

Look, it’s only half a quarter but this would be a an extremely fun Finals. Simmons is playing like LeBron bet him a honey bun before the game.

— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) January 28, 2021

when sixers play the lakers in the finals ben simmons is going to ball out

— collin mehalick (@collin) January 28, 2021

Ben Simmons now has the 13th most triple-doubles in #nba history. It’s his fourth season. pic.twitter.com/yFDeDJhPzI

— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) January 28, 2021

Hope all of the Ben Simmons haters are watching this game tonight. #TripleDouble #LALvsPHI

— Larry Dougherty (@Ldoc32) January 28, 2021

NBA GUN’S DOMINANCE NIGHTMARE

Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal must be wondering what else he can do to get his team over the line after another brilliant performance in a loss.

Beal hit 47 points in another massive game but the Wizards lost 124-106 to the New Orleans Pelicans.

He is now the first player in NBA history to lose 10 straight games while scoring 40 points or more according to ESPN Stats and Info.

What else can the man do?

He passes Walt Bellamy from 1961-62 for the Chicago Packers, ironically the franchise that eventually became the Washington Wizards.

He surpassed Walt Bellamy, who lost 9 straight in 1961-62 pic.twitter.com/dbjo15D7TY

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 28, 2021

Bradley Beal's last six games 😳

• 47 Pts, 6 Ast, Loss
• 33 Pts, 5 Reb, Loss
• 31 Pts, 7 Reb, Loss
• 34 Pts, 9 Ast, Win
• 41 Pts, 16-29 FG, Loss
• 60 Pts, 7 Reb, Loss pic.twitter.com/Ig7Wh2P7vc

— ESPN (@espn) January 28, 2021

Beal 😧 pic.twitter.com/lb0CgTOrfM

— ESPN (@espn) January 27, 2021

Beal now averages 35.4 points per game, leading the league this season in the stat, but there is little more support for the star as the Wizards collapsed to 3-11 for the season.

His 47 was wiped out as Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson scored 32 points each as the Pelicans claimed the 18-point win.

Ingram and Williamson scored 30 points in a game for the first time as Ingram tied a career-high by making seven three-pointers.

Eric Bledsoe scored 18 for the Pelicans, who started a five-game homestand with just their second win in 10 games.

The trade noise around Beal has been intensifying lately but he said he wants to stay in Washington, while the Wizards aren’t keen on releasing its star.

Then again, Beal’s wife appears far from happy with the latest performance.

Sick of it

— Kamiah Adams-Beal (@KamiahAdams) January 28, 2021

— with AFP