Ben Simmons did not crack a smile or pat himself on the back after the Philadelphia 76ers eliminated the Brooklyn Nets from the NBA playoffs.
The 22-year-old Australian knows three-time All-Star, two-time defensive player of the year and one-time finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and a talent-loaded Toronto Raptors are waiting for the 76ers in the eastern conference semi-finals.
The 76ers looked like legitimate championship contenders when crushing the Nets 122-100 in Philadelphia on Wednesday (AEST) to take the first-round series 4-1, but the Raptors pose a significant threat.
"We're trying to win a championship," said Simmons, remaining focused on the 76ers' ultimate goal.
The Nets watched helplessly as the 76ers went on a scoring blitz from the opening tip, jumping to a 23-2 lead in the first quarter and up by 60-31 at half-time.
"We think we can win it all," 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid said.
The Raptors also clinched their series 4-1 with a 115-96 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday (AEST), with Leonard scoring 27 points and rising power forward Pascal Siakam adding 24.
The Raptors won three of the four regular season games against the 76ers but both teams have undergone major mid-season roster changes, with the 76ers adding Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris and the Raptors picking up three-time All-Star centre Marc Gasol.
"Prepare. Stay focused," Simmons cooly replied when asked how he would deal with Leonard, a player who has dominated the 76ers this season.
The 76ers had looked a team in disarray in the opening game of their series against the Nets, losing 111-102 and receiving boos from the Philadelphia crowd.
The turning point came after game two when Nets forward Jared Dudley declared Simmons was "average" when defenders were able to restrict him to playing in the half court.
It led to a more aggressive Simmons, brought the 76ers' locker room together and made the series volatile with a melee erupting in game four when Embiid committed a hard foul on Nets' centre Jarrett Allen and Dudley took exception.
Tempers boiled over in the final two minutes of the series when the 76ers' other Australian, rookie Jonah Bolden, and three other players were ejected after tempers flared.
Bolden became tangled with Nets' forward Rodions Kurucs and Kurucs' hand appeared to hit Bolden in the mouth.
The 76ers' Greg Monroe and Nets' Dzan Musa also became involved and all four players were tossed.
Simmons had 13 points, five rebounds and six assists for the game but sat out most of the fourth quarter with the 76ers up by 30 points.
Embiid dominated early with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
Aron Baynes' Boston Celtics will face the NBA's top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the east's other semi-final.
Patty Mills' San Antonio Spurs suffered a lopsided loss against the Denver Nuggets in game five of their western conference first-round series.
The Nuggets won 108-90 in Denver to take a 3-2 lead and move one win away from eliminating the Spurs.
Mills had an off shooting night, missing six of his eight field goals for five points while the Nuggets' Jamal Murray had 23 points.
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