Ben Simmons had some choice words for his detractors after the Australian took control in the fourth quarter to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 122-110 win over the Boston Celtics.
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The two-time NBA All-Star has been criticised for his low-scoring start to the season, with James Harden's trade from Houston to Brooklyn - and not to Philadelphia at the expense of Simmons - igniting that further.
The new-look 76ers have amassed an 11-5 record to top the Eastern Conference with Simmons pulling the strings.
The 24-year-old ensured the latest win, with 11 of his 15 points in the final quarter against the Celtics to go with 11 assists, two steals and three rebounds.
It was the most aggressive Simmons has been in a season where he has prioritised creating shots for the in-form Joel Embiid and recruited shooters Danny Green and Seth Curry.
And the performance came with a clip to his critics.
"I'm just focusing on winning and doing what I can for this team," he said post-game.
"I don't go on Instagram. I don't go on Twitter, so I don't see what people are saying.
"And I don't give a f*** honestly."
Across 14 games Simmons has averaged 12.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.2 assists, Friday's effort only the second time he's managed 15 or more points this season.
The home victory took the 76ers to 7-0 when Simmons, Curry, Green, Embiid and Tobias Harris have started this season.
Curry, back in the line-up following a seven-game absence because of a positive COVID-19 test, scored 15 points as Embiid (38 points, 11 rebounds, three assists) and Harris (23 points, eight rebounds, three assists) continued their dominant seasons.
Jaylen Brown had 42 points, nine rebounds and three assists for the Celtics (8-6).
At Staples Center, Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points, Paul George added 29 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat Oklahoma City 120-106 for their sixth straight victory, improving their season record to 12-4 to tie the Lakers for the top spot in the Western Conference.
In Phoenix, Nikola Jokic scored 31 points, Gary Harris added 19 and Denver rallied to force overtime before the Nuggets beat the Suns 130-126.
San Antonio went down 122-117 at home to the Dallas Mavericks with Boomers guard Patty Mills posting 13 points, two rebounds and two assists for the Spurs.
The Toronto Raptors proved too strong for the Miami Heat winning 101-81, with Australian centre Aron Baynes spending 26 minutes on court for six rebounds, one assist and three points.
Harrison Barnes had 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Sacramento Kings held off the New York Knicks 103-94 to end a four-game losing streak.
Elsewhere, the Charlotte Hornets beat the Chicago Bulls 123-110, the Indiana Pacers edged out the Orlando Magic 120-118 after OT, the Detroit Pistons lost 103-102 to the Houston Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 125-113, while the Atlanta Hawks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-98.
Australian Associated Press
