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National Basketball Association
Philadelphia 107, Utah 86
When: 7:00 PM ET, Monday, November 20, 2017
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #16 David Guthrie, #54 Ray Acosta
Attendance: 20587

PHILADELPHIA -- With Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert absent, the Philadelphia 76ers were bent on making Monday night's game an inside job.

Led by rookie sensation Ben Simmons, they did just that.

Simmons poured in 27 points, the most he has managed in his 16-game NBA career, as the Sixers cruised to a 107-86 victory over the Jazz.

Many of his points came on drives to the rim, a task made easier since Gobert -- the 7-foot-1 Frenchman known as the "Stifle Tower" because of his shot-blocking ability -- missed his sixth straight game with a bone bruise of the right knee.

"Obviously (with) him out, it was a key for us to go inside," said Simmons, whose 10 rebounds gave him his 11th double-double.

J.J. Redick added 20 points, all in the second half, helping Philadelphia to its third victory in four games. Joel Embiid chipped in 15 points and 11 rebounds, and the Sixers limited the Jazz to 35.3 percent shooting.

Philadelphia shot 51.8 percent from the field and outscored Utah 66-34 in the paint.

"They were fouling a lot since Rudy was not a part of their back-line defense," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "So we really put a premium on trying to drive and put pressure on their interior players. ... As a team, it was our point of emphasis in the scouting report, and Ben I thought did a really good job of that tonight."

Simmons scored 14 points in the third quarter when Philadelphia extended a 12-point halftime lead to as many as 21, and 22 in the second half.

The Sixers outscored the Jazz 60-50 in the final 24 minutes, and led by 10 points or more the final 22:43.

"They were driving us, particularly in the open floor," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "We didn't do a good job of staying in front of them."

Donovan Mitchell had 17 points to top Utah, which fell for the seventh time in nine games. Mitchell, however, was assessed a technical foul with 4:09 left in the game when he shoved Embiid after Embiid blocked his shot and directed some choice words in his direction.

"He just got up and kind of fake-shouldered me, and I flopped," said the 7-2, 280-pound Embiid, who wound up on the floor. "Then he got a technical foul."

He added that he and Mitchell shook hands after the game.

"We don't even need to look at that play and make it a story because it isn't," Snyder said. "Joel made a really good defensive play and Donovan responded. It is what it is.

"Donovan responded and deserved the technical, but it wasn't a malicious response or anything like that. Shouldn't have done it. Got T'd. Next play."

Rodney Hood added 13 points for the Jazz, who fell to 1-7 on the road this season.

The Sixers (9-7) limited the Jazz to 5-of-20 shooting while taking a 25-15 lead after a quarter. After Utah closed the gap to 37-32 late in the second quarter, Philadelphia finished the half on a 9-4 rush featuring two baskets by Embiid and a three-point play by Dario Saric.

Embiid finished the half with 11 points and Ricky Rubio topped the Jazz (7-11) with 12.

NOTES: Sixers C Amir Johnson had eight points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots while playing 21 minutes off the bench. ... Philadelphia also owned a 55-34 rebounding advantage, and while the Sixers turned the ball over 20 times, the Jazz only managed to convert those giveaways into 11 points. ... Utah had 14 turnovers, leading to 12 Philadelphia points. ... Sixers coach Brett Brown was asked before the game to compare rookie G/F Ben Simmons and retired Lakers legend Magic Johnson, given their similar size and ball-handling skills. "To date, Ben's been great," Brown said, "but Ben would admit it with me: We haven't done anything. You feel very funny talking about those names you just mentioned. I can't even say the person you just said." ... Sixers G Jerryd Bayless returned after missing the previous six games with a bruised left wrist. ... The Jazz continue to be without F/G Joe Johnson (wrist) and G Dante Exum (shoulder), who have yet to play this season. ... The Sixers were without G/F Justin Anderson (shin splints) and G/F Nik Stauskas (ankle sprain). ... The game was attended by Alshon Jeffery and LeGarrette Blount of the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles.
Top Game Performances
 
Utah   Philadelphia
Donovan Mitchell 17 Scoring Ben Simmons 27
Donovan Mitchell 5 Assists T.J. McConnell 5
Derrick Favors 7 Rebounds Amir Johnson 13
Donovan Mitchell 4 Free Throws Made JJ Redick 6
Ekpe Udoh 4 Steals Robert Covington 4
Derrick Favors 1 Blocks Amir Johnson 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Utah 86 35.3 9-28 17-19 18 34 4 16 14
Philadelphia 107 51.8 4-15 15-22 20 55 7 11 20
Upcoming Games
  • Philadelphia will play their next game at home against Portland. The 76ers have a W/L % of .556 after a win and .571 after a loss.
  • Utah will play their next game at home against Chicago. The Jazz have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .400 after a loss.