Whatever anger Ben Simmons had about being left off of the 2018 NBA All-Star roster, he took it out on the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. The 21-year-old Philadelphia 76ers rookie secured a triple-double with 11:11 left in the third quarter on Wednesday night, before finishing the contest with 19 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in a 115-101 romp over the Chicago Bulls.
The 6-foot-10 Simmons also added two blocks on Wednesday, putting him in some pretty elite company:
Ben Simmons finishes with 19 points, 17 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 blocks. the only other player to ever do that (since blocks were recorded) is …
Larry Bird
— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) January 25, 2018
Simmons came out in dominant fashion on the offensive end, either scoring or assisting on 20 of Philadelphia’s 25 first-quarter points. By halftime, Simmons was just two assists short of the triple-double: 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
Coming out of the halftime break, Simmons wasted no time getting to the double-digit assist mark, giving out helpers on back-to-back 3-pointers by Sixers forward Robert Covington to open the half. The 6-0 run ballooned Philadelphia’s lead to 20, and the Sixers were able to maintain a relatively comfortable lead from there.
Simmons’ fifth career triple-double came in just his 43rd career NBA game. Only Oscar Robertson (21) had more in his first 50. Simmons’ five triple-doubles this year places him third in the NBA, behind only former league MVPs Russell Westbrook (14) and LeBron James (seven).
