By MATTHEW COLES, Related Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Even with out Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers have been scoring each time down the court docket.
However the Utah Jazz didn’t blink. They only gave the ball to Jordan Clarkson.
Clarkson had a season-high 40 factors off the bench to ship the streaking Jazz previous Philadelphia 134-123 in a matchup of convention leaders Monday night time regardless of a career-best 42 factors from Ben Simmons.
“I’ve by no means performed with anybody like JC in my lifetime,” teammate Joe Ingles stated. “It’s fairly cool to play with somebody that’s so locked into what his function is and so comfy within the function.”
Utah (23-5) has gained eight straight video games and 19 of 20. Clarkson has been a sparkplug in a number of of these victories.
A number one candidate for NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months already, Clarkson is aware of his function is to attain — and there aren’t many photographs he’ll flip down. Nicknamed the Flame Thrower, Clarkson was so sizzling he didn’t wish to come off the court docket.
“What Jordan did tonight was particular,” Utah coach Quin Snyder stated. “He and I simply laughed about me telling him that I respect him not less than hiding (his disappointment) when he comes out.”
Clarkson hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and Donovan Mitchell added 24 factors to assist the Jazz overcome an early 14-point deficit.
Clarkson set his profession scoring excessive for a recreation that led to regulation. He had 42 factors in a three-overtime loss to Brooklyn on Feb. 13, 2019.
“With them saying they consider me, letting me be myself and embracing me, it performs into the entire function of who I’m and that offers me much more confidence,” Clarkson stated.
Philadelphia (18-10) was minus Embiid, a late scratch due to again tightness. Taking part in with out his All-Star operating mate, Simmons had 12 assists and 9 rebounds — barely lacking a triple-double. He simply topped his earlier better of 34 factors set on Dec. 7, 2019.
“Actually, I’ve been engaged on my mentality and my psychological (method) rather a lot these previous few weeks,” Simmons stated of his newfound scoring prowess. “It’s not simple to do this, change the best way you play. Sure issues within the recreation come pure to sure individuals. I really feel like I’m figuring it out.”
Tobias Harris had a season-high 36 factors for the Sixers in a fast-paced recreation between championship hopefuls.
Regardless of all of the highlights from Clarkson and Simmons, it was Royce O’Neale who made the largest photographs down the stretch. The Utah guard hit consecutive 3-pointers to quell Philadelphia’s closing rally. His wing 3 to beat the shot clock gave the Jazz a 129-118 lead with 2:12 to play.
“I try to get Royce to shoot as a lot as attainable. We performed sizzling potato for a second there on the finish making an attempt to get him to shoot it, however we’re a very good staff when he shoots the ball,” stated Ingles, who had 20 factors.
Simmons scored eight straight factors within the fourth quarter to chop the Jazz result in 110-104 with 8:40 left. Minutes later, he discovered Harris for a 3 to get Philadelphia inside 113-109.
Embiid was scratched after popping out to heat up, and coach Doc Rivers expressed shock the large man wasn’t enjoying. However that simply cleared room for Simmons.
“I didn’t know we’d get 42 factors out of him, however he did the whole lot. He guarded, did an excellent job. Performed with tempo,” Rivers stated.
The Jazz scored 10 consecutive factors as a part of an 18-4 run to take their first lead within the second quarter and went up 67-59 on Bojan Bogdanovic’s jumper within the lane. Clarkson was the first driver of the surge with 21 first-half factors to assist Utah construct a 72-66 halftime lead.
“I’m simply coming in to do what Coach is telling me to do and what my teammates belief me to do and that’s to take photographs and attempt to make performs,” Clarkson stated. “That by no means modifications if we’re up by 20 or if we’re down by 15.”
The 76ers scored on 16 straight possessions within the first half and led 24-10 however couldn’t sluggish the Jazz a lot, both.
Simmons and Harris took turns isolating and driving to the basket with a full head of stream ranging from past the 3-point line. Utah tried O’Neale, heart Rudy Gobert and others however all of them had hassle stopping Simmons within the paint.
Simmons had 19 factors within the first quarter, his most ever in a single interval.
“I beloved once I noticed Rudy was guarding me,” Simmons stated. “I really feel it was slightly little bit of disrespect placing him on me.”
Already short-handed with out Embiid, Rivers provided an evening off to heart Dwight Howard when he realized of a dying in Howard’s household. Howard didn’t even arrive on the enviornment till an hour earlier than tip-off.
“I informed him he didn’t should play, and he stated, ‘Coach, I simply wish to get on the ground. It’s higher than simply sitting across the room.’ I believed he was phenomenal,” Rivers stated.
Howard completed with 14 factors and 12 rebounds.
“Clearly, he’s enjoying with a heavy coronary heart on the market tonight. Extremely quantity of respect for him,” Harris stated. “It simply reveals who he’s as an individual. He’s a tremendous chief.”
76ers: It was the fourth time Simmons had not less than 12 assists this season. … Taking pictures beneath 60% from the foul line throughout his profession, Simmons went 12 of 13 on free throws. … The 76ers made solely eight 3s to 18 for the Jazz.
Jazz: Mike Conley missed his fifth straight recreation with a sore hamstring. … Ingles handed Pete Maravich for seventh on the Jazz profession checklist with 1,845 assists. … Clarkson missed his second free throw of the season and now sits at 46 of 48. … Clarkson joined Jeff Hornacek, Rodney Hood, Randy Foye and Bogdanovic as Utah gamers to hit eight 3s in a recreation.
76ers: Host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
Jazz: Go to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
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