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NBA Wrap: ‘Absolute chaos’ in Kings robbery, Simmons hits back after filthy Westbrook move

The NBA is back baby and it’s started with a bang as the first full day of action delivered one of the more incredible finishes you’ll see.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
2 min read
December 24, 2020 - 6:14PM
Sacramento didn’t seem to know what to do.
Sacramento didn’t seem to know what to do.

The Sacramento Kings have just pulled off a piece of daylight robbery to deny the Denver Nuggets on the road as the teams played their first games of the season.

The Kings are traditionally in the also-rans at the end of the season but pulled off a massive scalp on opening night against the 2019-20 conference finalists.

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But not only the victory but the way it was won that caught the attention of the NBA.

The 124-122 overtime came with six seconds left when the throw in to Nikola Jokic was knocked free by Harrison Barnes.

He was passed the ball and appeared headed for a game-winning dunk, but the ball bounced off the rim as Will Barton wasn’t about to give up on the game and came up huge in defence.

The ball bounced back — straight towards Buddy Heild, who tipped it in just as the bell rang out.

Buddy Heild claimed the match winner.
Buddy Heild claimed the match winner.
And led his teammates straight down the tunnel.
And led his teammates straight down the tunnel.

The Kings went wild, with players running onto the floor and straight off the court.

The chance for the Kings came after a block from De’Aaron Fox that set up the grandstand finish.

“When guys can see it and feel it, to me it carries a lot more weight than us just constantly preaching and showing film on it,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “To get a block and a steal to come down and beat one of the best teams in the league on their home court, I sure hope reinforces that idea that we have to be able to get stops down the stretch to win games.”

It was a tough finish for the Nuggets and especially Jokic who recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists in a monster game but it wasn’t enough.

It was the Kings’ first win in Denver since January 2017, ending a six-game losing streak.

FILTHY WESTBROOK MOVE PANTSES SIMMONS

Russell Westbrook’s debut for the Washington Wizards has left Ben Simmons looking foolish but the Aussie superstar has had the last laugh as his Philadelphia 76ers opened the season with a 113-107 win.

Although the likes of Seth Curry and Danny Green who were brought in to take the shooting pressure off Simmons and Joel Embiid, the pair were only able to muster one-from-nine from beyond the arc.

Ben Simmons stripped the ball as he improves his defensive credentials.
Ben Simmons stripped the ball as he improves his defensive credentials.

But it didn’t matter with Simmons and Embiid leading the way as the Doc Rivers era in Philadelphia got off to a good start.

Embiid had 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Simmons had 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as well as two steals and three blocks as the season started with a W.

But midway through the third quarter, Simmons went to ground looking for an offensive foul with Westbrook hitting a step back jumper while he was on the ground.

Westbrook claimed a triple-double, becoming the first player to reach the feat in the first three quarters of a season opener in the past 25 years.

Westbrook notched the 147th triple-double of his career as he chases Oscar Robertson’s NBA record of 181.

He finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists, but Simmons also got his own back when he was left unguarded in the paint late in the final quarter.

Bradley Beal added 31 points for the Wizards, but Embiid scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.

— with AFP

Originally published as NBA Wrap: ‘Absolute chaos’ in Kings robbery, Simmons hits back after filthy Westbrook move

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/american-sports/nba/nba-wrap-absolute-chaos-in-kings-robbery-simmons-hits-back-after-filthy-westbrook-move/news-story/fd4954555ac9c420117b416ca7152960