The Sports Xchange
Nov 20, 2017
PHILADELPHIA -- Rookie Ben Simmons scored a career-high 27 points as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Utah Jazz 107-86 on Monday night.
Simmons also grabbed 10 rebounds, giving him the 11th double-double in his 16-game-old NBA career.
J.J. Redick added 20 points, all in the second half, helping Philadelphia earn its third victory in four games. Joel Embiid chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds, and the Sixers limited Utah to 35.3 percent shooting.
Philadelphia hit 51.8 percent of its field-goal attempts.
Donovan Mitchell had 17 points to top Utah, which fell for the seventh time in nine games. Mitchell, however, was assessed a technical foul with 4:09 left in the game, when he shoved Embiid after Embiid blocked his shot and directed some choice words in his direction.
The Jazz, who were without center Rudy Gobert (bone bruise on right knee) for the sixth straight game, fell to 1-7 on the road this season.
Simmons scored 14 of his points in the third quarter, when the Sixers extended an 11-point halftime lead to as many as 21. He wound up with 22 second-half points. Again and again he attacked the basket, aware that Gobert, one of the league's premier shot-blockers, was not lurking.
Philadelphia, up 75-63 after three quarters, never allowed Utah closer than 10 in the final period.
The Sixers (9-7) limited the Jazz to 5-of-20 shooting while taking a 25-15 lead after a quarter. After Utah closed the gap to 37-32 late in the second quarter, Philadelphia finished the half on a 9-4 rush featuring two baskets by Embiid and a three-point play by Dario Saric.
Embiid finished the half with 11 points, while Ricky Rubio topped the Jazz (7-11) with 12.
NOTES: Philadelphia coach Brett Brown was asked before the game to compare rookie G/F Ben Simmons and retired Lakers legend Magic Johnson, given their similar size and ball-handling skills. "To date Ben's been great," Brown said, "but Ben would admit it with me: We haven't done anything. You feel very funny talking about those names you just mentioned. I can't even say the person you just said." ... Sixers G Jerryd Bayless returned after missing the previous six games with a bruised left wrist. ... The Jazz continue to be without F/G Joe Johnson (wrist) and G Dante Exum (shoulder), who have yet to play this season. ... The Sixers were without G/F Justin Anderson (shin splints) and G/F Nik Stauskas (ankle sprain). ... The game was attended by Alshon Jeffery and LeGarrette Blount of the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles.