Ben Simmons’ First Triple-Double Gives 76ers first win of the Season

The Philadelphia 76ers got their first win of the season on Monday night as they topped the Detroit Pistons 97–86 with the dynamic duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The Sixers looked hungry from the opening tip, going up by as many as 21 in the second quarter. With a 56-43 lead at the half it look like Philly would be able to get an easy win, but the Pistons were not going down without a fight. Both teams went down to the wire as the Pistons kept trying to cut into the lead, outscoring the Sixers in the third quarter. The Pistons were able to get within three points before T.J. McConnell hit a big three halfway through the fourth to extend the lead and the Sixers never looked back. The Sixers wound up leading for the entire game.

After coming off a night of rest on Saturday in the loss against the Raptors, Joel Embiid was back in the lineup and ready to play. He did not disappoint and had an impressive 30 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Embiid made the Sixers look like a better team with him being on the floor. Ben Simmons is already off to an excellent start to his NBA career. In each of the first three games of the season Simmons has had three double-doubles. Monday against Detroit, he notched the first triple-double of his NBA career posting 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Simmons nearly got the triple-double when in the fourth quarter he passed to an open Jerryd Bayless, who hit a three. The shot did not count as Bayless got called for an offensive foul. With over a minute left in the game Simmons tried again, this time finding Embiid in the paint for an easy two and getting his first of what will likely be many more triple-doubles. The only other NBA player in history to post a double double in the first 4 games of his career is Oscar Robertson.

After the game in his on-court television interview, Simmons indicated that he was on a mission. “To win, I just wanna win.” Getting that next win will be a challenge as James Harden is up next on the radar in what looks to be tough game against one of the top Western Conference teams. The 76ers (1-3) play the Houston Rockets (3-1) Wednesday night in Philly.