By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly editor 
On Australian Heritage Night at Wells Fargo Center the Sixers' resident Aussie Ben Simmons eased his way to his fifth triple-double of the season in a 115-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The Sixers were led by Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid in the first quarter who combined to score the team's first 10 points.
As the quarter progressed it became clear that Simmons was in a mindset that we have only been teased with this season. He decided to take over the game.
Simmons went off in the first quarter scoring eight points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing five assists in eight minutes of work.
Simmons helped the Sixers cruise to a 25-16 lead after one.
Simmons would pick up the double-double by adding three more points in the second quarter. He also came within reach of a first-half triple-double by adding three more assists, inlcluding this alley-oop to Robert Covington:
Simmons sends it over to Cov for a slam!
Sixers up 53-37 with a minute left in the half. pic.twitter.com/3K40iQBWsc
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 25, 2018
Simmons went into halftime with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Simmons wasn't the only Sixer to have a big first half, however. Dario Saric, Simmons's teammate in the Rising Stars Challenge, led the team with 15 points and added eight rebounds and two assists.
Lauri Markkanen led the Bulls with nine points in the first half.
The Sixers held a 55-41 advantage at the break.
Simmons wasted no time getting his fifth triple-double of the season by notching two assists on the first two possessions of the second half.
The Sixers avoided their patented third quarter collapse and maintained their big lead. They were led by six points each from Dario Saric and Ben Simmons in the quarter.
The Sixers led 85-67 going into the final frame.
The Sixers used a hot shooting touch, especially from three, to maintain the lead in the fourth quarter. The Sixers finished the game shooting 51.9% from the floor and an outstanding 50.0% from beyond the arc.
Brett Brown emptied the bench to close the fourth quarter as the Sixers coasted to the 115-101 victory.
Simmons finished with a dominant 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists. Only Russell Westbrook and LeBron James have had a game with 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists this season per Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice.
Dario Saric quietly finished with a double-double, scoring 21 points and pulling down 10 boards.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 22 points. Robert Covington (16), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (12), and Justin Anderson (12) also scored in double figures for the Sixers.
The Bulls were led by Bobby Portis's 22 points off of the bench. Portis turned in a double-double by also grabbing 11 rebounds.
Zach Lavine scored 21 with seven rebounds and three assists as he continues to stay red-hot after returning from injury. Nikola Mirotic (15), Lauri Markkanen (12), and David Nwaba (10) also scored in double figures for Chicago.
The Sixers have won eight of their last 10 games and will look to continue their hot month of January when the visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
