Sixers rip Wizards anew

Jazz, Knicks fight back

Ben Simmons silenced the critics with a 22-point, nine-rebound, eight-assist performance as the Philadelphia 76ers routed the Washington Wizards 120-95 to grab a 2-0 playoff series lead on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Donovan Mitchell returned from an injury to score 25 points with Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson contributing 16 markers as the Utah Jazz withstood a 47-point performance from Ja Morant to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 141-129 and level their series at one game apiece.

In New York, Derrick Rose scored 26 points off the bench to lift the Knicks to a 101-92 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of their first-round series.

Julius Randle recorded 13 of his 15 points in the third quarter and added 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who levelled the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Joel Embiid also scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the heavily-favored Sixers got contributions from a number of players including starting power forward Tobias Harris, who had 19 points and nine rebounds.

Simmons scored 12 of his 22 in the first quarter, delivering a breakout playoff performance after being criticized for scoring just six points in Game 1.

“I’m here to win and I’m doing what I need to do to help my team win, whatever it is. I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong or anything like that. I’m trying to do my job to win,” Simmons said.

The top-seeded 76ers now have a firm lead in the best-of-seven East series with Game 3 scheduled for Saturday in Washington.

“I told him, ‘You’ve got all the space and all the time in the world. Just attack,’” said Embiid of Simmons. “He’s physical and he’s athletic and he can make plays.”

The Wizards weaved their way into the postseason by grabbing the eighth and final seed, but it hasn’t been an easy road.

Their frustrations mounted on Wednesday when Russell Westbrook left the game with an injury and then had a run-in with a Philadelphia fan as he was walking down the tunnel.

Less than two minutes into the fourth, Westbrook appeared to injure his right ankle and headed to the locker room. A Philadelphia fan dropped popcorn on Westbrook, who then had to be restrained.