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76ers' Ben Simmons flirts with triple-double in playoff debut – USA TODAY
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Ben Simmons came one rebound shy of recording a triple-double in his playoff debut as the 76ers won their first playoff game since 2012.
Simmons, who finished with 17 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds in the 76ers’ 130-103 win over Miami, would have entered the record books alongside Magic Johnson, who, in 1980, was the last rookie to record a triple-double in a playoff game, according to basketball-reference.com.
Simmons, who had 12 triple-doubles during the regular season, paced the 76ers with his steady court vision as the team won their 17th consecutive game overall.
“Play the way I play,” Simmons said. “I don’t need to take all the shots. I’ve got guys who can hit shots. So as long as I’m getting them open and good shots, we’re fine.”
He had five turnovers but none in the second half when the Sixers outscored the Heat 74-43.
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It wasn’t just Simmons, though. Veteran J.J. Redick had 28 points, Marco Belinelli had 25, Ersan Ilyasova had 17 and Dario Saric had 20.
“Passing the ball, sharing the ball, playing downhill. It’s always about concepts and spacing and unselfish players,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said. “We had 34 assists tonight, that’s a massive number in the playoffs. We share the ball, the guys like playing with each other.”
Since 1963-64, just three rookies have reached a triple-double in a playoff game, according to basketball-reference.com.
Johnson five times in 1980.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970.
And Jerry Lucas in 1964.
Late in the regular season, Simmons joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to record at least 1,200 points, 600 rebounds and 600 assists in their rookie seasons.
His 14 assists were the second most in a playoff debut, two behind Johnson and one more than Robertson. Simmons is just the sixth rookie to record at least 14 assists in a playoff game and the 20th rookie to have a playoff double-double in points and assists.
“I feel good but not satisfied,” Simmons said. “So I’m looking forward to the next game.”
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