Kyle Lowry says Ben Simmons didn’t show up for ‘fight’ after the game
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry and Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons were ejected during their Monday night matchup.
On Monday, the Toronto Raptors faced off against the uprising Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, two of the teams best players didn’t finish out the game. Raptors guard Kyle Lowry and 76ers guard Ben Simmons were both ejected with six seconds remaining in the 76ers 117-111 win. Simmons motioned to Lowry to meet him in the tunnel “supposedly” to fight. Lowry excitedly agreed.
Ben Simmons and Kyle Lowry were ejected with six seconds left, and then they both agreed to continue their "conversation" into the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/WxXfa0PpYh
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) January 15, 2018
After the game, Simmons insisted that nothing happened between the two star players.
Simmons denies anything happened with Lowry. Said, “it’s nothing “.
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) January 15, 2018
But Lowry took a more somber route. He implied disappointed that Simmons didn’t meet him and that he was in the tunnel waiting for him.
"Put it this way: I was back there" -- Kyle Lowry on Sixers' Ben Simmons invitation to meet him in the hallway after they were both ejected.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) January 16, 2018
While it isn’t clear what got Lowry and Simmons worked up, SBNation believes it has found a possible motive.
"It’s also possible the altercation was sparked with about 25 seconds left, when Lowry attempted to push the ball ahead, lost it, and Simmons stole it from him. The play essentially ended any chance at a Toronto comeback, and Lowry may have perceived a slight that was only amplified by his frustrations.After that play, when Joel Embiid went to the free throw line after being fouled, Simmons and Lowry kept talking at each other."
Derek Bodner, a senior NBA writer for the 76ers, brings more clarity to the situation.
Lowry has been talking to Simmons non-stop during these free-throws. And as I started typing this tweet, they got into each others faces and continued talking when the free-throws were done.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) January 15, 2018
Ben Simmons pouncing on Kyle Lowry https://t.co/bjWLGK3iTX
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) January 15, 2018
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Five players that should have stayed
This season, we have seen our fair share of bad behavior and fights/near-fights. Last night, Chris Paul, Gerald Green and others sought out Blake Griffin after the game. The Warriors are being unusually testy, racking up ejections. Simmons, for a young player, probably did the right thing by not escalating the situation further. A young player with his talent doesn’t want to follow what the rest of the NBA is doing.