For a refresher on our Bell Ringer series, take a look back at our first post of the season.
Bell Ringer Standings
Ben Simmons - 13
Tobias Harris - 9
Joel Embiid - 8
Josh Richardson - 8
Matisse Thybulle - 3
Furkan Korkmaz - 3
Al Horford - 1
James Ennis - 1
On the night LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, the Sixers did everything within their power to render that feat a sidenote. Philadelphia opened up a 22-point second-half lead, and although turnover problems allowed the Lakers to cut the deficit to as little as five points, the Sixers ended the game on a 15-3 run to close out the victory. Here are your Bell Ringer candidates:
Ben Simmons: 28 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 5 turnovers
When you have LeBron James talking post-game about how he’ll enjoy watching you continue to grow when he’s done playing, you’re doing something right. Such is the case for Ben Simmons, the man who lost a tooth in the first half, and then shot 8-of-9 for 17 points, with six rebounds and six assists in the second half. It was all part of a 12-of-15 night from the floor, where Ben’s 3-D shot chart looked like a beautiful Christmas tree.
I’m dying pic.twitter.com/Xeuz0JryzG
— max (@MaxOnTwitter) January 26, 2020
The NBA steals leaders swiped another four, two of which accounted for part of LeBron’s game-high eight turnovers. But it was a rare night where Ben was arguably more dominant on the offensive end. He consistently got downhill and forced help to come, then finding the open teammate. If the Lakers tried to stop Ben with a single defender, he exploited any step in the wrong direction and stormed the other way to flick up a sweeping lay-in or slam home a hammer dunk.
Give it to him.#PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/XCcwd0ZlcX
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 26, 2020
Tobias Harris: 29 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3 turnovers
Props to Tobias for taking the tough assignment of guarding Dwight Howard to start the game and never letting the Lakers make much of a difference on the glass. Offensively, Harris was sure to attack whatever mismatch he found in front of him. If anyone gave him too much space, he canned the outside shot (3-of-8 from 3). If a bigger guy crowded him, he blew past for the bucket. If he found himself facing a smaller opponent, down to the post. And if Kyle Kuzma was “defending”, the other players on the court might as well started running to the other end of the court, because that ball was going in the hoop.
Oh he's cookin'.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 26, 2020
@ABCNetwork pic.twitter.com/INADcrppNE
Al Horford: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers
With new Phillies manager Joe Girardi in attendance at the Wells Fargo Center, he must have motioned to the bullpen to call in the closer and out trotted Al Horford. It was a five-point game with five minutes remaining when Big Al went HAM, scoring seven straight points across three consecutive possessions to push the lead back to 12. The first two shots were open jumpers set up by Simmons, but the final capper was a fadeaway baseline J as Horford backed down and bullied Danny Green. It’s good to have a veteran out there to stay composed and hit some huge shots when things had unraveled a bit.
BANG.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 26, 2020
@ABCNetwork pic.twitter.com/8cdBOxy9TK
Shake Milton: 7 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover
The late addition to the starting lineup, Shake certainly looked like he belonged. The second-year wing fought for a career-high nine rebounds, and continually made the right reads with the ball in his hands, whether it was finding Matisse Thybulle behind the arc or pump-faking and dishing to Simmons underneath the basket. Shake glided through the air for a reverse lay-in like he plays nationally-televised games against a Finals favorite all the time.
Matisse Thybulle: 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 5 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers
LeBron must have been so preoccupied with passing Kobe that he neglected to thoroughly read the scouting report. You don’t turn your back on Matisse!
Thybulle once again combined his rare combination of elite instincts and incredible athleticism to come away with a whopping five steals. I also liked on his block in the final two minutes how he seemed to have learned not to leave his feet and just let Danny Green go up into him.
Poll
Who is your Bell Ringer in the win over the Lakers?
This poll is closed
-
90%
Ben Simmons
-
3%
Tobias Harris
-
3%
Al Horford
-
1%
Shake Milton
-
1%
Matisse Thybulle