Nets’ big three plays together for the first time in a preseason loss

The big three for the Brooklyn Nets played together for the first time in a preseason 127-108 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.

After a dramatic offseason, the Brooklyn Nets were back on the court, and the NBA world got its first look at the trio of Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

The trio played 19 minutes each before being rested for the remainder of the game, with the Sixers finishing 127-108 winners.

Ben Simmons got his first points in the colours of the Nets with a strong dunk in transition off an Irving pass and later hit Royce O’Neale with a crosscourt pass for a 3-pointer.

Durant had 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Irving had nine points, four rebounds and four assists, respectively.

The 76ers, without star Joel Embiid, were impressive. Tyrese Maxey gathered 20 points in 14 minutes of play.

Brooklyn struggled to shut down Philadelphia from deep, with the Sixers shooting 8-for-15 from 3-point land compared to 1-for-9 for the Nets.

The Nets continued to fall into a hole in the second quarter, going down by 20 before a 15-0 run saw them draw within five points of the Sixers.

Philadelphia 76ers led at halftime, 65-62 and finished from where they stopped in the second half, 62-46.

Brooklyn Nets won just one quarter, the second 36-23. The Philadelphia 76ers won the remaining three, the first (42-26), the third (36-24) and the fourth (26-22).