‘Best Simmons has looked’ as great calls out Nets; rising Aussie ‘phenomenal’ in win — NBA Wrap

An NBA legend has referred to as out the Nets over their use of Ben Simmons amid an improved displaying from the struggling star.

Plus the basketball world has heaped reward on a rising Aussie.

Catch up on all the day’s motion in our NBA Wrap!

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BIG PRAISE FOR DANIELS AFTER PELICANS WIN

C.J. McCollum scored a season-high 30 factors. whereas reserves Larry Nance Jr. and Jose Alvarado made key contributions to spark New Orleans over Memphis 113-102 in an NBA sport Tuesday.

McCollum made 11-of-23 pictures from the ground, 7-of-13 from 3-point vary, and handed off 9 assists because the Pelicans improved to 8-6, simply behind Memphis (9-6) within the Western Conference.

“I just tried to be aggressive, take advantage of the opportunities,” mentioned McCollum, who had 22 factors within the second half. “I’ve been in the gym a lot trying to work on my fundamentals and my shot discipline and tonight it carried over.

“I’ve been getting a lot of great looks all season, haven’t been knocking them down. I just wanted to focus on the work and it paid off.” Ja Morant scored a game-high 36 factors to steer Memphis, nevertheless it was when he went to the bench late within the third quarter, with the Grizzlies main 86-85, that the Pelicans seized command.

New Orleans went on a 15-5 run with Morant resting and stretched the spurt to 19-5 for a 104-91 edge with 6:12 remaining, Alvarado scoring 5 within the run and Nance and McCollum every including 4.

Nance completed with 19 factors, seven rebounds and two blocked pictures whereas Alvarado had 12 factors and 6 assists.

The Pelicans, among the many NBA’s worst 3-point taking pictures golf equipment, went 18-of-38 from past the arc, helped by course from coach Willie Green and assured drives to the ring to attract in defenders and arrange passes to the surface when no shot develops.

“Coach put an emphasis on the early easy pass, making sure guys had a shot ready,” McCollum mentioned. “Guys have been in the gym a lot working on catch and shoot threes and tonight we shot them.

“All the times we force our way into the paint we’ve got to trust our judgment. It’s a credit to the guys making the right pass and making the right play.” Memphis ahead Jaren Jackson Jr. made his season debut after present process proper foot surgical procedure following the 2022 playoffs, contributing seven factors, six rebounds and 5 blocked pictures.

Dyson Daniels tallied three factors, 9 rebounds, a steal and a block in 17 minutes, getting an prolonged run with Pelicans star ahead Zion Williamson lacking the sport with a bruised proper foot.

And the younger Aussie obtained loads of reward for his output.

The Grizzlies mentioned Wednesday they’d be with out guard Desmond Bane for 2 to a few weeks with a sprained proper large toe. Bane is averaging profession highs of 24.7 factors, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists a sport with career-best taking pictures percentages from the ground and 3-point vary.

Meanwhile Jaren Jackson Jr. made his season debut following low season foot surgical procedure, registering 5 blocks.

NETS SMASHED AS LEGEND CALLS OUT SIMMONS BENCHING

The Brooklyn Nets have been blown out on the highway by the Sacramento Kings 153-121.

Kevin Durant led the Nets with 27 factors, nevertheless it was in any other case a sport to neglect for Jacque Vaughn’s aspect because it allowed the Kings to shoot over 60 per cent from the sector together with 48 per cent from downtown.

Ben Simmons got here off the bench but once more and was productive with a season-high 11 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists and a steal in 20 minutes.

And talking on TNT at halftime with the Nets down 73-54, NBA legend Charles Barkley questioned whether or not Simmons was being greatest utilised as a reserve.

“What are the Brooklyn Nets doing? They’ve only got one guy who can score in the starting unit,” he mentioned.

“Ben Simmons can only play really fast, and I don’t understand bringing him off the bench at all.

“He needs to be playing to help those guys get easy baskets … obviously his confidence is shot right now, but he can push the ball and he can help them get some easy baskets.”

Terrence Davis dropped a team-high 31 factors off the Kings bench on an extremely environment friendly 12-for-16 taking pictures effort and 7 triples to go along with seven rebounds and three steals, whereas Domantas Sabonis had 17 factors, seven boards and 7 assists.

It marked Sacramento’s fourth-straight win to enhance to 7-6 and go above .500 for the primary time this season, whereas the Nets suffered their second-straight loss to drop to 6-9.

MAVS EDGE CLIPPERS AFTER LUKA MAGIC

At Dallas, Luka Doncic had sport highs of 35 factors and 11 rebounds to spark the host Mavericks over the Los Angeles Clippers 103-101.

Dorian Finney-Smith’s 3-pointer lifted Dallas degree at 93-93 with 2:50 remaining within the fourth quarter. Then Dwight Powell stole the ball and arrange Reggie Bullock’s 3-pointer that put the Mavericks forward 96-93 with 2:02 remaining.

Bullock added one other 3-pointer after a Clippers turnover to provide Dallas a 99-93 lead with 91 seconds to play.

Nicolas Batum answered with a 3-pointer for the Clippers and Paul George added a layup to elevate the guests inside 99-98 with 51 seconds remaining.

Doncic sank a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to stretch the Dallas result in 102-98. George answered on a layup with 18 seconds to play and Bullock made solely 1-of-2 free throws with 7.3 seconds to play to make it 103-100 because the Clippers regarded for a 3-pointer to equalise.

Instead, the Mavs fouled Batum and he made a free throw then missed one other, however Dallas grabbed the rebound and ran out the ultimate seconds to safe the victory.

George led the Clippers with 23 factors and Batum had 22 whereas Finney-Smith added 21 for Dallas.

ALL RESULTS

GRIZZLIES 102 PELICANS 113

CLIPPERS 101 MAVERICKS 103

KNICKS 118 JAZZ 111

SPURS 110 TRAIL BLAZERS 117

NETS 121 KINGS 153