Sixers Bell Ringer: Game 23 - Ben Simmons hits another 3 as Sixers crush Cavaliers

For a refresher on our Bell Ringer series, take a look back at our first post of the season.

Bell Ringer Standings

Josh Richardson - 5
Tobias Harris - 5
Joel Embiid - 4
Ben Simmons - 4
Furkan Korkmaz - 1
Al Horford - 1
Matisse Thybulle - 1
James Ennis - 1

Bristling from a poor performance Thursday night in Washington, the Sixers doubled up the Cavaliers in the first quarter, 36-18. However, they did not remain satisfied with that good start, continuing to pour it on an ineffective and uninterested Cleveland squad. Philadelphia took a 41-point lead into the halftime locker room, the largest halftime lead for any team this season, as well as the largest in Sixers franchise history. The rest was academic, as all the starters took a seat before the end of the third quarter, with the clock ticking down to a 141-94 Sixers victory.

Ben Simmons: 34 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover

Maybe it was the fact that Cleveland’s defense resembled the intensity of those summer workouts we saw so much of on social media, but Ben was not afraid to be aggressive and let the shots fly Saturday night. He was in attack mode from the jump, dropping 14 first-quarter points. Then, Simmons really spread his wings in the second quarter, feeling confident enough to unleash his second career 3-pointer (make sure to watch for the top-notch Norvel Pelle air guitar).

Ben did not rest on his laurels, though. On the very next possession, he threw down an alley-oop dunk. By the end of the first half, he had already topped his season-high with 26 points. Simmons eventually left the game to a curtain call with a few minutes left in the third quarter, finishing 12-of-14 from the field (excellent!), 1-of-1 from 3 (literally as efficient as it gets!), and 9-of-12 from the foul line (improving!), for a career-high 34 points. Toss in the 7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and the four stocks in 26 minutes and it was everything anyone has ever wanted to see from the former first overall pick.

Mike Scott: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 turnovers

The Threegional Manager was in danger of being demoted to Assistant to the Threegional Manager, shooting just 2-of-21 from the field and 1-of-16 from 3 over his previous five games. Apparently though, Scott’s 12th career start was the perfect medicine for what ailed him. Mike broke out of his shooting slump in a big way, going 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3. The Sixers could have won this game without receiving anything from Scott, but against opponents offering some degree of resistance, they are going to need him out there helping to space the floor. Great to see him regain his rhythm.

Tobias Harris: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers

After averaging 27 points across his past three games, Tobi stayed hot with 15 points in just over 22 minutes of action. On the downside, he was one of only two Sixers to turn the ball over more than once. For shame, Tobi!

Trey Burke: 21 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 0 turnovers

Trey was the honorary “guy who puts up numbers in extended garbage time”, but he made it look fun along the way. I loved watching Burke turbo boost past Cavaliers defenders with his quick first step, and contort his body for acrobatic finishes around the rim. He finished 9-of-12 from the floor to reacquaint Sixers fans with what he is capable of on the offensive end.