Simmons floored by NBA's shortest player

Ben Simmons towers at 210 centimetres and Facundo Campazzo measures in at only 178 centimetres, but it was the shortest man in the NBA who floored the Australian superstar in a collision.

The 76ers' Simmons and Nuggets' Campazzo engaged in some aggressive back-and-forth play during the Denvers' 104-95 victory at Ball Arena.

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After Campazzo drew an offensive foul on Simmons due to a clear flop in transition, the 76ers point guard tried to get even by catching the Nuggets back-up with a screen in the back court, but the 30-year-old Argentinian was prepared.

Campazzo hit Simmons' chest with his shoulder and the All-Star crashed onto his backside, making for an instant meme on social media.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1377078221963886594

Former Houston Rockets guard Chris Clemons started the season as the NBA's shortest player at 175 centimetres, but he ruptured his Achilles during the pre-season and was waived.

Jamal Murray scored 30 points in the Nuggets' win, Michael Porter junior added 27 and Denver raced out to a 25-point lead on their way to victory over the slow-starting 76ers.

Nikola Jokic added 21 points for the Nuggets, who played in front of a home crowd for the first time since the pandemic shut down the 2019-20 season in mid-March of last year.

"They made all the difference in the world for us," Murray said.

"It was just good to have them back in the building.

"Especially after the 76ers' back-ups made a late run to turn the blowout into a contest."

https://twitter.com/nuggets/status/1377097332924186629

Reserve Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 13 points, all in the fourth quarter.

The much-anticipated match-up between the East-leading Sixers and rejuvenated Nuggets, who made the biggest headlines at the trade deadline with the additions of Aaron Gordon and JaVale McGee, quickly fizzled with Denver's first-quarter flourish.

Before the Nuggets took a 68-45 lead into the locker room, Jokic stepped up to the free-throw line and was met by chants of "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

The crowd consisted of employees of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment and healthcare professionals who have been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.

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from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/basketball/nba-news-ben-simmons-philadelphia-76ers-denver-nuggets-facundo-campazzi/efe1de1a-5604-4497-87b2-57a4423e4396

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