Ben Simmons is so, so good.
The Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward/positionless beast showed off all his skills in Saturday’s 106-104 victory over the Miami Heat, posting 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists (and four steals!) to become only the fifth rookie in NBA history to record a playoff triple double and the first since Magic Johnson in 1980.
The Sixers’ win — in which Simmons and company came back in the fourth quarter and withstood an appearance by Vintage Dwyane Wade — gave them a 3-1 lead in the teams’ first-round series. The teams will now return to Philadelphia for Game 5 on Tuesday, where the Sixers will have a chance to close out their first playoff series victory since 2012.
As has been the case all season, the highlights were numerous for Simmons in Game 4. Here he is slipping a gorgeous bounce-pass through traffic to Amir Johnson…
Ben Simmons finds Amir Johnson through traffic!
Up & down action has @sixers up 14-12 early. #PhilaUnite
?: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/bSiWJFDGWJ
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2018
Here he is spinning into the lane and flipping up a contested layup…
Ben Simmons shows off the spin and strength! ??#PhilaUnite @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/MWFOZ13rIO
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2018
Here he is fading away over a defender for a key basket later in the fourth quarter.
Ben Simmons falling away!#PhilaUnite 96 | #WhiteHot 90 with 5 minutes left in the 4th.
?: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/Geg83JA71t
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2018
And here he is scoring one of the biggest buckets of the game, via a two-handed slam in traffic.
Ben on the take! pic.twitter.com/4FF4VYgW5o
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2018
Simmons certainly did not do it alone Saturday. Joel Embiid put up 14 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks (with eight turnovers, though), while J.J. Redick added 24 points, including a clutch jumper and four other 76ers scored in double figures. But it was Simmons who was the best player on the floor, who made all the right plays and who delivered Philadelphia a 3-1 series lead.