'Amazing' Simmons goes off in 'best game ever'

Jordan Clarkson scored a season-high 40 points to power the streaking Utah Jazz past the Philadelphia 76ers 134-123 in a matchup of conference leaders Monday night despite a career-best 42 points from Australia's Ben Simmons.

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Not only was it his own personal best, it was the most- ever points scored by an Australian in an NBA game, surpassing Aron Baynes' mark of 37. Their countryman Joe Ingles added 20 points in this game for the Jazz.

Clarkson hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell added 24 points to help the Jazz overcome an early 14-point deficit. Utah (23-5) has won eight straight games and 19 of 20.

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Philadelphia (18-10) was minus big man Joel Embiid, a late scratch because of back tightness. Playing without his All-Star running mate, Simmons had 12 points and nine rebounds — barely missing a triple-double. He easily topped his previous best of 34 points set in December 2019.

"He did everything," Doc Rivers said of Simmons. "… We anticipated once Joel was scratched that the line-up we put on the floor, we were trying to create a line-up where [Rudy] Gobert would guard Ben. That happened.

"The key for us was getting stops, getting it to Ben, and getting up the floor. We just felt there was no way anyone was going to stay with him, especially a centre. So, I thought Ben handled that very well."

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Tobias Harris had a season-high 36 points for the Sixers in a fast-paced game between championship hopefuls.

Royce O'Neale hit consecutive 3-pointers to quell Philadelphia's final rally. His wing 3 to beat the shot clock gave Utah a 129-118 lead with 2:12 to play.

Simmons scored eight straight points in the fourth quarter to cut the Jazz lead to 110-104 with 8:40 left. Minutes later, he found Harris for a 3 to get Philadelphia within 113-109.

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