Brooklyn slump to seven-year worst in NBA

For once Ben Simmons' offence wasn't in question.

Instead, it was the Australian guard's effort on defence in the spotlight as his Brooklyn side slumped to a seven-year NBA low.

The Nets lost 125-116 to Indiana on Saturday (Sunday AEST), a 1-5 start their worst to a season since 2015.

The Pacers' 23 three-pointers were more than the Nets have ever allowed on their home court, while the hosts were out-rebounded 62-43.

It left former New Jersey Nets star Richard Jefferson shaking his head in commentary, Simmons one of the major culprits after a slack effort chasing a loose ball led to more second-chance Pacers points in the pivotal third quarter.

Simmons' knockers have questioned the 26-year-old's hesitance to take shots and even attack the rim in his return to basketball after missing all of last season with back and mental health issues.

While there was some of that on show, the former Philadelphia No.1 draft pick and three-time All-Star had his best game statistically as a Net, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

He made three-of-five free throws and missed several close-range floaters, Jefferson urging Simmons to look for contact around the rim rather than prop and float his shot over the defence.

Kyrie Irving (35 points) and Kevin Durant (26) again did the lion's share of the scoring for the Nets, while Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin (32 points) and Tyrese Haliburton (26 points) both made six triples.

Simmons' Australian teammate Patty Mills had eight points in six minutes, the Nets' 10-point lead in the second quarter eroded when the Pacers' shooters got hot in the third term.

The loss leaves the Nets equal last in the Eastern Conference with the Charlotte Hornets, who upset Golden State 120-113 on Sunday.

"Just too many errors. Too many errors on top of lack of effort at times," Nets coach Steve Nash said.

"Sometimes it's not even about schemes, it's about fighting.

"In defence, if you let a guy run in and grab an offensive rebound unopposed it's hard to get stops."

In Chicago, the Bulls erased a 19-point deficit to lead Philadelphia in the third quarter but ultimately fell 114-109.

After playing a combined total of only six minutes across the first five games of the season, Australian Matisse Thybulle was entrusted with more time on the floor for a second-straight game and entered the contest as the 76ers' first sub.

The Olympic bronze medallist was part of the Sixers' all-bench lineup that went on an 11-3 run to finish the first quarter.

A season-high 17 turnovers - five from marquee man Joel Embiid - threatened to bring the Sixers undone.

But an Embiid three-pointer in the final 18 seconds ultimately sealed the result after Philly's James Harden had a horror night, shooting two of 13 from the field. 

"It's the NBA, you've got to take (wins) whenever you can," Embiid said.

"But that doesn't mean that was a great one. We've got a lot of work to do."

Meanwhile Sacramento's 119-113 defeat of the Miami Heat means LeBron James's Los Angeles Lakers are the only team without a win.

Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder came back from 16 points down with five minutes to play against Dallas and scored a 117-111 overtime win.

The Thunder are 3-0 without Australian Josh Giddey, who is nursing an ankle injury, and 0-3 with him this season.