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PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
NBA

Jimmy Butler wins 76ers home debut, then takes dig at T'wolves

Portrait of Matt Eppers Matt Eppers
USA TODAY
Jimmy Butler scored a team-high 28 points in his 76ers home debut.

When they bring in a Hall of Famer and team legend for your home debut, you know it's a big deal.

Jimmy Butler played his first game in Philadelphia as a member of the 76ers with Allen Iverson watching from a courtside seat. Butler responded with one of his most efficient games of the season in a 113-107 win against the Utah Jazz that showed why the 76ers took the risk of acquiring the disgruntled star.

Butler then proceeded to throw some perhaps not-so-subtle jabs at his former Minnesota Timberwolves teammates.

"It's so fun to win and so much more fun to play with these guys," Butler said in a postgame interview on the floor.

He added: "Everybody wants to win, and when somebody messes up, you talk to them. They don't take it personal and they do their job. I think everybody is such a good basketball player and we all want to do right."

Butler scored a team-high 28 points on 12-for-15 shooting as Philadelphia stayed unbeaten at home.

Joel Embiid struggled from the field (7-for-20) but went 8-for-9 from foul line and fought off foul trouble of his own to finish with 23 points in 26 minutes. Ben Simmons had 10 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.

Butler described the 76ers' young stars as "talented" and "hard-working" and said "their will to win is unmatchable."

"I love this group of guys," Butler added. "They want to win, and I think we'll continue to do that."

After a handful of lead changes during the fourth quarter, the 76ers scored the final eight points of the game. J.J. Redick hit a pair of free throws and Simmons made a driving layup to put Philadelphia ahead 109-107.

Then with fewer than 30 seconds left, Simmons found a cutting Butler with a pretty inbound pass for a layup that sealed the win, sent the crowd into a frenzy and got a cheering Iverson out of his seat.

"When your point guard looks at you and gives you one of those (nods), just be prepared for the ball to come," Butler said of Simmons. "He's an incredible passer. His vision is unreal, and he knew it was going to be there. I tip my hat to him."

Follow Matt Eppers on Twitter @meppers_.

 

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