NewsBite

World laughs as Ben Simmons’ team falls apart in NBA Play-offs

Ben Simmons caused a frenzy as soon as he showed up, but the real savagery was saved for his team which is breaking apart spectacularly.

4 min read
April 24, 2022 - 2:09PM
Ben Simmons wore some threads. Photo: Twitter, Getty, Al Bello.
Ben Simmons wore some threads. Photo: Twitter, Getty, Al Bello.

Even Ben Simmons showing up looking like an extra from an Olivia Newton-John music clip couldn’t distract from the fact his team is on the brink of a humiliating Play-offs elimination.

The Nets plunged to 0-3 in their Eastern Conference first round series against Boston after a 109-103 loss on home soil in New York on Sunday morning (AEST).

Watch Live Coverage of The 2022 NBA Playoffs with ESPN on Kayo including every game of The Conference Finals and The Finals. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The star-studded team that was supposed to be an unstoppable dynasty is now looking at being swept from the Play-offs with Game 4 to be played on Tuesday (AEST).

When Brooklyn brought Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and James Harden together it was supposed to be invincible.

Even with Harden traded and Simmons joining the team, Brooklyn was expected to be a championship contender.

It was never supposed to look like this.

Jayson Tatum scored 39 points to lead the Celtics to a big win. No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

Basketball commentators were left stunned as Irving and Durant were shut down by the Celtics defence. Durant had 16 points and shot the ball just 11 times. Irving also had 16 points. Critically, neither of them were able to get involved in the fourth quarter.

Jayson Tatum owned Kevin Durant. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images).
Jayson Tatum owned Kevin Durant. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images).
Not like this. Not like this. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP.
Not like this. Not like this. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP.

Aussie Patty Mills shot at eighty per cent from the field to pick up 12 points from just 23 minutes on the floor.

It was Bruce Bown who led the Nets with 26 points.

At one point, legendary NBA TV commentator Mike Breen openly laughed at some of the shots the team was coming up with.

At the other end of the floor, Tatum looked unstoppable.

He became the first Boston player ever to finish with a stats sheet of 39 points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals. He is just the third player ever to come up with numbers that high.

Tatum was more focused on his team’s defence — and keeping Durant to just one shot attempted in the fourth quarter.

“We know what he’s capable of, everybody does,” Tatum said of Durant.

“Someone like him, you can’t let it be easy.”

The Celtics led most of the game and took an 81-72 lead into the fourth.

Jaylen Brown finished with 23 points for the Celtics, who pushed the lead to 15 in the fourth quarter before the Nets closed in again, pulling within five points with 22 seconds remaining.

Tatum made two free throws and came up with a steal and a final dunk to end it.

“I think it just shows the growth of our team,” Tatum said.

“Early in the season, we gave up big leads all the time. And we figured it out. You’re never going to be perfect, it’s all about how you respond. We kept responding.”

Ben Simmons wore some threads. Photo: Twitter, Getty, Al Bello.
Ben Simmons wore some threads. Photo: Twitter, Getty, Al Bello.

It sets up an extraordinary situation that leaves Simmons about to make his debut in the Game 4 elimination game. He went public on Saturday to announce he is ready to return for the fourth game. His team has not confirmed his return.

After losing Game 3, coach Steve Nash may just be desperate enough to roll the dice with the Aussie.

Simmons has not played in 10 months since his infamous meltdown during the 2021 Play-offs with the 76ers.

Simmons was certainly not hiding as he sat on the bench for Game 3.

He became a human plaything for social media after showing up in a violent, bright outfit.

The social media response was absolute savagery.

Here is a taste of some of the shots fired.

Toronto stuns Philadelphia after Embiid mystery

In Toronto, forward Pascal Siakam scored a playoff career-high 34 points and Gary Trent Jr. added 24 in the Raptors’ 110-102 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers to stay alive in their series, trimming the deficit to 3-1.

“We played hard,” Siakam said. “Whenever I get it going, we know that’s going to be dangerous.” The Sixers can still advance in the best-of-seven set with a game-five victory at home on Monday.

“We need to go back to the drawing board and do whatever it takes to be better,” 76ers star centre Joel Embiid said.

Embiid, the NBA scoring leader, was nagged by a right thumb injury, reportedly torn ligaments, despite producing 21 points and eight rebounds.

“I’m not really worried about what can happen, I’m worried about what I can do,” he said of playing through the painful injury.

Embiid made it clear any suggested surgery will come after the post-season. “It’s the playoffs,” he said. “Nothing is going to stop me.” Siakam scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, holding off a Sixers fightback attempt in the final minutes, especially silencing Embiid.

“We made it tough on him to score and we live with whatever happens,” Siakam said.

Jazz wins thriller of Dallas

In Salt Lake City, Rudy Gobert’s slam dunk with 11 seconds remaining gave the Utah Jazz a 100-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks that knotted their Western Conference series at two games apiece.

The Jazz spoiled the return from injury of Mavericks guard Luka Doncic. The Slovenian star, who hadn’t played since April 10 due to a left calf strain, scored 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting while pulling down 10 rebounds.

“I was really excited,” Doncic said of getting back on court. “I missed basketball.” Doncic sank a jumper to put Dallas ahead and added a 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining to give the Mavericks a 99-95 lead.

But Utah’s Donovan Mitchell answered with a 3-point play and after Dwight Powell missed two free throws for Dallas, Gobert’s slam dunk produced the deciding points.

Dallas had one last possession but Utah defenders swarmed Doncic, who passed to Spencer Dinwiddie only to watch the final shot fall short.

“We tried to get it out of Luka’s hands, tried to make him pass,” said Gobert, who finished with 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds

— with AFP

Read related topics:Ben Simmons
More related stories

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/nba/world-laughs-as-ben-simmons-team-falls-apart-in-nba-playoffs/news-story/8490d88f0825d3dda1793dfaa95c2ba8