Ben Simmons, 76ers beat LeBron James in NBA playoff standings

Aussie Ben Simmons and his team have set a record win streak, storming into the play-offs as the NBA’s hottest team.

Ben Simmons, right, and the 76ers have taken the Eastern Conference third seed from LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Picture: AFP

Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia will face Miami in the first round of the NBA playoffs, finishing third in the Eastern Conference after easily beating Milwaukee.

The Sixers will enter the series against the Heat with home advantage and on a 16-game winning streak after beating the Bucks 130-95 on Wednesday, the final day of the regular season.

Simmons was afforded some bench time, playing 22 minutes to score four points with six rebounds and seven assists.

Fellow Australian Matthew Dellavedova returned from injury for two points for the seventh-seeded Bucks, who will meet Boston in the playoffs. Boomers centre Aron Baynes exploded with a career-high 26 points to go with 14 assists for the No. 2 ranked Celtics in the 110-97 win over Brooklyn.

Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 pick of the 2017 draft who missed 68 games with a shoulder injury, became the youngest player in NBA history (19 years, 317 days) with a triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. “It was just a matter of going out there and enjoying myself and playing confident,” Fultz said.

His teammates doused Fultz with strawberry milk, chocolate milk and water in celebration of the record feat.

“It’s all love and appreciation,” he said.

Fultz should have hit up Joel Embiid and borrowed something to protect his face. Embiid wore a black mask during warm-ups to protect his broken bone around his left eye, then changed into his garish outfit to watch the Sixers romp to a stunning 80-44 lead at the break.

Embiid said he will likely miss at least Game 1 of the playoffs this weekend because of the injury.

The 76ers have done just fine without him.

Boston Celtics centre Aron Baynes during his big game against Brooklyn. Picture: AP

The Sixers clearly need their big man if they’re going to make a run in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Embiid leads the team with 22.9 points and 11 rebounds in 63 games, helping Philly clinch its first playoff berth since 2012. “I want to play but right now I feel like I’m not ready yet,” Embiid said. “It’s getting there. I’ve got to keep working every day. With the way it’s been progressing, I’m hopeful I’ll be back soon.”

The 76ers were led by Dario Saric (24 points) and Justin Anderson (25) as the team registered the longest ever winning streak entering the post-season. Half of the 16 wins were achieved without All-Star centre Joel Embiid, who is a chance to return during the post-season having been sidelined by a facial fracture.

The Bucks entered their regular-season finale having won seven of 10 games and occupying sixth place in the East.

They were out of contention against the Sixers in the first quarter after falling behind by 30 points.

Australian Thon Maker finished his quiet second season for the Bucks with three points.

Dellavedova, who has missed the past 29 games with an ankle injury, will give the young Bucks playoff experience in the post-season.

The Bucks could consider themselves lucky to face Boston in the playoffs, with the Celtics losing four of their last six and minus the services of stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.

The winner of the series will face the Sixers should they see off the Heat. Boomers guard Patty Mills went scoreless as his San Antonio finished their regular season with a 122-98 loss to New Orleans.

The Spurs had already locked in their playoffs berth as they sit seventh in the Western Conference and will face defending champions Golden State in the first round.

The Jazz, featuring Australians Dante Exum and Joe Ingles, can claim the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a win over Portland.

AAP