Ben Simmons on Nets bench, DeMar DeRozan faces Wilt Chamberlain, Bulls, MVP candidates
Ben Simmons returned to an NBA bench as his Brooklyn Nets snapped a nearly month-long losing streak.
Plus, a bolter in the MVP race did something no one has seen since Wilt Chamberlain.
Keep up to date with today’s news and scores in the NBA Wrap!
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Tue 15 Feb
tuesday 15 february
SIMMONS ON THE BENCH AT THE END OF THE NETS’ 11-GAMES SLIDE
In New York, Seth Curry scored 23 points in his debut for Brooklyn as the Nets snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 109-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Curry helped Brooklyn earn its first win since beating San Antonio on Jan. 21.
He made 10 of 18 shots, including three 3-pointers, and added seven rebounds and five assists.
His former Sixers teammate Ben Simmons was spotted on the bench in the Nets’ decisive win.
He was also involved in a shooting at Barclays Center before the match.
Simmons held off in Philadelphia until Oct. 11, then was reportedly kicked out of practice a week later for refusing to participate in a drill. Citing mental health issues and requesting a trade, Simmons left the team again.
“I think we can play real quick, in transition,” said new Nets teammate Nic Claxton, who saw Simmons for the first time before the win over the Kings.
“We can definitely change a lot of defense, have a lot of length at the bottom, have good groups. I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun.
MVP FANCY ACHIEVEMENT NOT SEEN SINCE WILT
DeMar DeRozan caught fire late, using a calculated game plan to score a team-high 40 points as the Chicago Bulls took control in the final quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-109 on Monday.
The Bulls trailed by six points early in the fourth quarter, but DeRozan then broke away, scoring 11 of his team’s next 13 points to give Chicago the lead.
DeRozan says he tried to stay calm throughout, especially in the third quarter when the Spurs outscored the Bulls 32-24.
“Come into the fourth quarter, my main priority is to win at all costs,” DeRozan said. “You have to understand the whole game. It’s hard to come out of the in-between and be aggressive and try to score.
“You have to dissect the game. I’m collecting data throughout the game and in the fourth quarter I got it all figured out and the ball goes in the hoop.
DeRozan scored 30 or more points in seven straight games and set a club record with his sixth consecutive game of at least 35 points, passing Michael Jordan in the 1996-97 season.
He tied Wilt Chamberlain for the longest streak of games scoring at least 35 points while shooting 50% from the field (six).
Nikola Vucevic added 25 points and 16 rebounds and Coby White scored 24 points and Ayo Dosunmu hit for 12 in the win.
Chicago shot 52.3% from the floor and edged Spurs 58-41.
FEBRUARY 15 NBA RESULTS
Warriors 104 –119 Mowers
Pistons 94 – 103 Assistants
Kings 85 – 109 Nets
Thunder 127 – 123 Knicks (OT)
Spurs 109 – 120 bulls
Trail Blazers 122 – $107
Raptors 90 – 120 Pelicans
Magic 111 – 121 nuggets
Rockets 101 – 135 Jazz