Ben Simmons leads his 76ers side to pre-season victory over Melbourne United
Ben Simmons has shown no mercy to Melbourne United by putting on a show in the Philadelphia 76ers' 104-86 demolition of the visiting Australians.
The teams began the NBA-NBL exhibition experiment in Philadelphia on Friday (local time).
Melbourne-born 76ers' star Simmons made spectacular passes, multiple dunks and athletic defensive plays in falling just short of a triple-double despite only playing 26 minutes.
External Link: SInow tweet: Off the backboard to himself for the……assist?
Simmons, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, had eight points, eight rebounds and 14 assists, including one spectacular play where he passed the ball off the backboard to himself and then flicked it to team-mate Markelle Fultz for an easy basket.
United had an injury scare late in the second quarter when shooting guard Chris Goulding had an open shot under the basket until 76ers' All-Star centre Joel Embiid launched his massive body at the Australian.
The Boomers player crashed to the floor, grabbed his leg and then limped off to the locker room.
Early reports said the injury, to his left ankle, was not serious.
United's centre, Alex Pledger, top-scored for the Australians with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Goulding had 13 points, despite missing five of his six three-point attempts, from his shortened 19-minute stint.
The game is the first of numerous NBA-NBL clashes over the coming week.
The Perth Wildcats face the Utah Jazz, featuring Aussies Joe Ingles and Dante Exum on Saturday [Sunday AEST) in Salt Lake City.
Later in the week, Andrew Bogut returns to the NBA with his Sydney Kings playing the Los Angeles Clippers in Hawaii, the Phoenix Suns host the New Zealand Breakers, Melbourne moves north to play the Toronto Raptors, Perth take on the Denver Nuggets and the Adelaide 36ers face the Jazz.
AAP
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ABC .net
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