Simmons shut down: Nerve injury rules fading Nets star out for rest of NBA season
Ben Simmons will not play again this season.
Patty Mills has set a Brooklyn Nets record for the most three-pointers off the bench with a career-best nine from 12 attempts in an emphatic win over Oklahoma City Thunder.
Mills sizzled with 29 points in the 120-96 road victory as the popular Australian got the better of his rookie countryman Josh Giddey, who put up six points, five rebounds and four assists as well as committing a team-high four turnovers.
"He is unconscious!"
Patty Mills drains his career-high 9th three of the night ???? pic.twitter.com/1bt8ILUXxd
— NBA (@NBA) November 15, 2021
Patty Mills tonight:
29 PTS
9-12 3P
+28 +/-He breaks the record for the most threes off the bench in Nets franchise history. pic.twitter.com/9jEwwqkB7k
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 15, 2021
The 33-year-old was only two treys short of the overall franchise record held by Deron Williams.
“I couldn’t make any from inside the three-point line, but it obviously feels good whenever the ball can go in the rim,” Mills said in a post-match interview.
Run of the Mills!@Grady met up with Patty Mills after he set the Nets' franchise record for 3️⃣'s made off the bench with 9.#NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/YiDiwuBh24
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 15, 2021
He has now tied Aron Baynes for the most threes made by an Australian in an NBA game. Baynes sunk nine from 14 playing for the Phoenix Suns against the Portland Trailblazers in March 2020.
Mills’ effort against the Thunder was his best scoring performance for the Nets, who he joined this season following a successful 10-year spell with the San Antonio Spurs.
He’s been in strong shooting form from outside the arc, knocking down seven threes from as many attempts in Brooklyn’s season-opening match against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The proud Canberran holds the honour of being the only Nets player to make seven or more three-pointers off the bench twice.
Mills and Brooklyn will be back in action on Wednesday (Australian time) when they host the Steph Curry-powered Golden State Warriors.
It’s been a happy few days for Mills after the veteran Boomers guard was announced as the ACT’s Australian of the Year nominee last Friday.