Overview
- Simons closed out a 115-101 win over the Bulls with 27 points in the final 18:08, shooting 9-for-13 from the field and 8-for-11 from three.
- His eight threes in a half tied the play-by-play-era NBA mark, and his 27-point half was the highest by a Boston bench player since tracking began in 1996-97.
- Head coach Joe Mazzulla lauded Simons’ physicality and execution on defense as the guard adapts to a reserve role after arriving from Portland.
- Since December, Simons owns a 130.1 offensive rating, a 108.1 defensive rating and a +22.0 net rating, with a team-best +168 plus-minus over 15 games and an efficiency differential that ranks second on Boston per Cleaning the Glass.
- Though long viewed as a trade chip on an expiring $27.7 million deal, his surge has fueled calls to keep him and explore a summer extension as Boston moves to second in the East and its bench drives an 8-1 stretch.