MANILA – Ben Simmons scored on a game-winning tip-in as the Philadelphia 76ers ousted San Antonio Spurs in overtime, 113-111, of the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association season on Sunday night at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Struggling on offense during the entire game, Simmons was at the right place and the right time to score from a missed shot attempt by Joel Embiid at the buzzer. He then sealed the win for the 76ers to regain the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 43-21 slate.
He finished the match with five points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Brooklyn Nets fell to the second spot in the East, 43-22, after suffering a 117-114 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks, 40-24, which sits at the third place in the East.
Embiid top-scored with 34 points and 12 rebounds for the 76ers; Seth Curry had 22 markers; and Dwight Howard added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Lonnie Walker IV tallied 23 points and Keldon Johnson chipped in 19 markers. Rudy Gay had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, as the Spurs went down to 31-32.
Sacramento Kings (27-37), meanwhile, renewed its mastery over Dallas Mavericks (36-28) with a 111-99 beating to remain within striking distance from the Western Conference playoffs race.
Buddy Hield scored 27 points, Marvin Bagley III added 23 points and nine rebounds, while Richaum Holmes contributed 17 points for the injury-hit Kings.
Phoenix Suns (46-18), on the other hand, reclaimed a share of the top spot in the Western Conference after escaping with a 123-120 win over Oklahoma City Thunder (21-44).
In other results, Portland Trail Blazers prevailed over Boston Celtics, 129-119; New York Knicks manhandled Houston Rockets, 122-97; and Miami Heat turned back Charlotte Hornets, 121-111.
BOX SCORE:
PHILADELPHIA 113 – Embiid 34, Curry 22, Howard 14, Green 11, Milton 8, Harris 6, Gill 5, Thybulle 5, Simmons 5, Korkmaz 3.
SAN ANTONIO 111 – Walker 23, Johnson 19, Gay 18, Dieng 17, Mills 6, Samanic 6, Vassell 4, Jones 4, Bates-Diop 4.
QUARTERSCORES:
37-27, 61-52, 89-79, 107-107, 113-111./PN
