Best Wednesday performances in the NBA playoffs, No. 3: Ben Simmons
Special Consideration: Joel Embiid
Game 2 of this first round matchup was a lot different than that of game 1. Game 1 was what I refer to as “The Tobias Harris Game”. Harris was incredible in Game 1, giving Philly 37 points followed up with Embiid putting in his own 30 spot as I highlighted in one of my earlier pieces. Game 1 was also a more competitive game. The final score of 125-118 was a back and forth, up and down, fast paced contest. Although Philly pulled it out, the inferior underdog in the Wizards, played the top seeded Sixers very close.
Game 2 was a lot less competitive as far as the score goes. Philly simply dominated from start to finish. The Sixers won every quarter, shot 55 percent from the field as a team, shot over 40 percent from 3, and the Wizards under 40 percent shooting from the field with their great effort on the defensive end.
The Performance of the Night in my eyes has to go to Ben Simmons. It was an easy decision, he tied with embiid for leading scorer (22 points), he led the Sixers in rebounds (9) and assists (8), and he was a force on the defensive end. His impact affected the game so many different ways offensively and defensively, leading the Sixers to a 25 point victory in Game 2.
Simmons is fantastic, but even I was surprised that he scored as much as he did and did it so efficiently, shooting over 60 percent from the field on 15 attempts.
The Sixers cruise past the Sixers to take a 2-0 lead in this first round series. With Russell Westbrook sustaining an injury in wednesday night’s game, I think it’s fair to say this series will be a short one.