“We knew we were facing a team with a fast pace, but we did a great job against them, we managed to reduce their speed and they found it difficult to find their rhythm,” Durant said.
Harden’s night was not successful because he only scored 11 points, including a three-pointer that made him the third best scorer in this category in the American League with 2,561 shots, knowing that the leader is Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, while Curry scored 22 points and Simmons missed an injury in his back. The best scorer in the Sixers was Cameroonian Joel Ambed, with 27 points.
It is noteworthy that Simmons did not defend the colors of the 76ers in any game this season due to mental problems and was greeted with boos by his former team’s supporters when he entered the field, and then again when he picked up a ball on the bench of the Nets reserve players.
Durant defended him: “We knew he needed our help. We managed to silence the opposing team’s supporters and he didn’t chant against Simmons late in the game.”
The first meeting between the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers after the mutual deal
The Brooklyn Nets dominated the game from the start and led by 24 points on their way to finish the first half 72-51, the most points in a Philadelphia basket at the end of this half this season.
He expanded the lead to 32 points at the end of the third quarter and maintained a comfortable lead until the end.
The Nets raised their tally of victories this season to 34 compared to 33 losses, while Philadelphia suffered its 25th loss against 40 wins.
In a second match, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry became the 49th player, reaching the 20,000-point barrier, scoring 34 points, including 18 in the third quarter, to lead his team to a victory over the Denver Nuggets 113-102.
Corrie commented on his achievement by saying, “Any achievement you make, whether individually or collectively, is distinguished. We work every day to improve our level, hoping to achieve more. It is definitely something special for me.”
On the other hand, Serbian Nikola Jokic was the best scorer in the ranks of Denver, with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists, to fail to achieve the 19th “Triple Double” this season.
Golden State finally decided the result in his favour, in the last minutes, which saw him score the last 13 points in the match, while Denver failed to hit the basket in the last 4 minutes and 40 seconds.
The Warriors lost seven of their last nine matches and remained third in the Western Region with the same balance for the Memphis Grizzlies II (45 wins and 22 defeats).