NBA: Ben Simmons flirts with triple-double as 76ers beat Cavaliers

Ben Simmons flirted with a triple-double as the Philadelphia 76ers held on to beat the Cavaliers.

Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James. Picture: AP

Ben Simmons flirted with a triple-double as the Philadelphia 76ers held on for a 108-97 victory over the Cavaliers.

The 76ers led wire-to-wire in Cleveland yesterday (AEDT), perhaps the perfect sales pitch if they want to lure LeBron James to Pennsylvania next season.

The 76ers, who had lost 11 straight games to the Cavs, were fuelled by 22 points from shooting guard JJ Redick, who connected on seven of his 11 shots from the floor, including four three-pointers.

It was a rare road win for the Sixers, who notched just their second win in their last eight away games. Joel Embiid added 17 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for Philadelphia. Simmons finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.

James, who said he was flattered by three billboards rented by a Pennsylvania company in the Cleveland area urging him to consider a move to the Sixers as a free agent next season, led all scorers with 30 points.

He added nine rebounds and eight assists but Cleveland, who closed to within one point with 2:25 remaining after trailing by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter, were never able to get in front.

Things got testy in the waning seconds, when Philadelphia forward Dario Saric dunked and Cleveland’s Jordan Clarkson, frustrated, bounced the ball off Saric’s back. Clarkson was ejected as players from both teams exchanged words.

In Miami, Los Angeles point guard Isaiah Thomas scored a season-high 29 points in the Lakers’ convincing 131-113 victory over the Heat.

The Lakers won in Miami for the first time in a decade, halting whatever momentum the Heat had built with wins over the Memphis Grizzlies and the 76ers.

Veteran Dwyane Wade delivered another vintage performance in his seventh game back with the Heat since he was traded from Cleveland. But his 25 points weren’t close to enough against a Lakers team untroubled by any defensive effort from Miami, who gave up the most points they have allowed this season.

Julius Randle scored 25 points for the Lakers and Brandon Ingram added 19 before a premature departure with a left hip flexor strain — the only downside for the Lakers on the night.

Agencies