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Ben Simmons injured in blowout 76ers loss to LeBron James, Cavaliers

Australia’s rising NBA star Ben Simmons has been dealt an injury blow during his team’s showdown with LeBron James.

Ben Simmons goes up for a dunk as Cleveland’s JR Smith looks on during the second half of the Cavaliers-76ers game. Picture: AP
Ben Simmons goes up for a dunk as Cleveland’s JR Smith looks on during the second half of the Cavaliers-76ers game. Picture: AP
5 min read
1:48PMNovember 28, 2017.
Updated 2:08PMNovember 28, 2017

LeBron James had 30 points, 13 rebounds and six assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Philadelphia 76ers 113-91.

The three-time defending Eastern Conference champions won their eighth straight game. Dwyane Wade scored 15 points, and Jeff Green had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Joel Embiid had 30 points and 11 rebounds to pace the up-and-coming 76ers, who had won three straight and five of six.

James scored the first nine points on his way to 22 in the first half, helping Cleveland to a 53-45 lead by draining a 3 in front of Cleveland’s bench at the first-half buzzer.

The four-time MVP then had four points, including an emphatic dunk, and J.R. Smith hit three 3-pointers early in the third as the Cavaliers took a 14-point lead. Philadelphia got within five in the period, but the Cavaliers stretched the advantage to 86-73 entering the fourth.

Kyle Korver’s 3-pointer with 9:13 to play gave Cleveland a 94-77 lead. Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons entered leading all rookies in scoring (18.5 points), rebounding (9.1) and assists (7.7), but he was hounded all game by Jae Crowder and managed just 10 points before exiting in the fourth quarter with a right ankle sprain. Simmons, who has turned to James for career and life advice, missed all of last season with a broken right foot.

TIP-INS Cavaliers: Iman Shumpert returned after missing the last three games due to left knee soreness. Shumpert was scoreless in seven minutes.

76ers: Eagles players LeGarrette Blount, Malcolm Jenkins and Brandon Graham were seated courtside, and several other players watched from a box. ... The 76ers were 3 for 28 from 3-point range, including 0 for 11 in the opening half.

Live blog - how the game unfolded

1.20pm: Simmons adds injury to insult

Ben Simmons has been injured during his team’s blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Simmons left the court with a sprained right ankle during the fourth quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers’ 113-91 defeat. It was a disappointing night for the Australian, who scored 10 points and collected 8 rebounds and 2 assists.

The game was dominated by LeBron James, who tallied 30 points, with 13 rebounds and 6 assists.

1.05pm: Popgun shooting

Philadelphia have been stone cold from downtown, connecting on an abysmal 2-23 three-point shots. Cleveland are blowing the home team away now. Cavaliers 101-81 76ers

12.55pm: Simmons jamming

The Philadelphia star breaks out of a lull early in the fourth quarter with a pair of vicious dunks, including one off an offensive rebound, to reach double figures. Cavaliers 91-77 76ers

LeBron James dribbles past Philadelphia’s Robert Covington. Picture: AP
LeBron James dribbles past Philadelphia’s Robert Covington. Picture: AP

12.50pm: Work to do

Ben Simmons gets back in the game with a tick under two minutes left in the third quarter. He almost passes LeBron James on his way off for a spell. James has 26 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Simmons is stuck on 6 points and 5 rebounds. We’re at the end of the third. Cavaliers 86-73 76ers

12.40pm: Aussie connection

The 76ers are coached by Brett Brown, who has a long and proud association with Australia, having coached the North Melbourne Giants and Sydney Kings in the NBL. He also was in charge of the Boomers between 2009 and 2012. Meanwhile, the 76ers get their first three-pointer midway through the third term, ending a 0-11 streak from beyond the arc. Cavaliers 71-67 76ers

76ers coach Brett Brown. Picture: AFP
76ers coach Brett Brown. Picture: AFP

12.30pm: Second half underway

Cleveland pick up where they left off early in the third quarter, as LeBron James throws down a big dunk and JR Smith drops a three-pointer. Cavaliers 66-52 76ers

Ben Simmons goes to the basket against Cleveland. Picture: AP
Ben Simmons goes to the basket against Cleveland. Picture: AP

12.20pm: Highlight reel

12.10pm: LeBron leads the way

LeBron James is showing why he’s a three-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP with a clinical performance in the opening half. James has 22 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists as Cleveland have the upper hand. Ben Simmons has 6 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist as Philadelphia struggle to convert their chances. Cavaliers 53-45 76ers

11.55am: The King returns

After a lengthy spell on the bench, LeBron James returns with 7 minutes left in the first half and Cleveland holding a handy lead. Dwyane Wade has 12 points. Simmons heads to the bench soon after. He has six points and five rebounds. Cavaliers 42-29 76ers

11.45am: 76ers struggling

Simmons makes a driving lay-up to reduce the Cavaliers’ advantage, but LeBron and company are scoring too easily at the other end. Dwyane Wade comes off the bench and turns back the clock with nine quick points as the visitors maintain their edge. Cavaliers 39-28 76ers

11.40am: Cavs hold the edge

The Cavaliers go on a 10-0 to skip out to a lead after one quarter. Cavaliers 29-22 76ers

11.30am: Simmons answers back

James and the Cavs shoot out to an early lead, but a burst of points gets Philadelphia back on terms. Simmons has four points, two rebounds and an assist towards the end of the first quarter. 76ers 22-21 Cavaliers

11.20am: All LeBron so far

Of the Cavaliers first 15 points, LeBron James scored 13 and assisted on the other basket, sending a statement to Simmons and the 76ers.

11.15am: An early clash

LeBron goes head to head with Simmons as the Australian defends. James goes right to the basket for an easy two points. Simmons has an early rebound, assist and foul. James opens the first quarter with 13 points. Cavaliers 15-12 76ers

11am: Start moments away

The young, brash 76ers are ready to host a star-studded Cavaliers team itching to get back to the NBA Finals. This game will be a litmus test for both sides. James has appeared in the past seven finals series.

10.55am: Simmons scorching

The 21-year-old leads all NBA rookies in scoring (18.5), rebounding (9.1) and assists (7.7). LeBron James is averaging 28.5 points, 8.6 assists and 7.8 rebounds.

10.45am: Tale of the tape

Cleveland have a 12-7 win-loss record and are one of the form teams of the league, riding a seven-game winning streak. The 76ers are 11-7 and have won four from five.

The form of Joel Embiid has been crucial to the 76ers early season success. Picture: AP
The form of Joel Embiid has been crucial to the 76ers early season success. Picture: AP

10.30am: Tip-off approaching

We’re 30 minutes away from one of the most eagerly awaited regular season NBA clashes of the year.

Simmons ready to dethrone the King

It will be the master against apprentice when LeBron James and Ben Simmons go head-to-head in their first NBA clash.

James, the four-time NBA MVP, will lead the Cleveland Cavaliers against the 21-year-old Melbourne-born rookie Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers on Monday (11am Tuesday AEDT) at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.

Simmons, who James refers to as a “little brother”, announced on Twitter with a simple tick he will play despite an elbow injury that forced him out of the 76ers’ win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

James shrugged off comparisons between himself and Simmons, who has sensationally averaged 18.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists in his first 17 games.

“You guys do that comparison stuff,” James told reporters on Monday. “I think Ben is his own make-up of speed, power, quickness, competitive basketball and being able have a feel for the game.

“Ben is Ben and I am who I am.” James took Simmons under his wing in 2014 when the then 17-year-old Australian basketball prodigy attended the LeBron James Skills Academy in Las Vegas. Simmons, after his one-year stint with Louisiana State University, turned professional in 2016 and signed with James’s management company Klutch Sports Group.

Simmons’s sister Emily was hired in a marketing/branding role at Klutch. Philadelphia forward Robert Covington revealed to reporters on Monday that Simmons would start the game guarding James.

“We are going to throw different match-ups on LeBron,” Covington said. “We are going to start Benny on him, but we are going to see how the game goes.”

Additional reporting: AAP

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/basketball/ben-simmons-ready-to-battle-lebron-james-in-nba-showdown/news-story/8c8494a662af9939b0ddce231e87047f