The shot might be one small step for an NBA player, but it was a giant leap for the Australian Philadelphia 76ers' star when he calmly dropped a long bomb in the 144-86 exhibition game demolition of China's visiting Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Tuesday.

It was Simmons' first successful three-pointer for the 76ers after two barren seasons shooting from distance.

Social media exploded, however Simmons and his coach, Brett Brown, were not popping champagne corks after the game.

Simmons downplayed it as just the result of working hard in the off-season.

"I work every day so it shows," he told reporters.

"I'm in the gym every day putting in work so I feel like it's paying off."

Brown, who for two seasons has faced questions about Simmons' reluctance to shoot and is aware of how sensitive his player is about it, described the breakthrough three-pointer as "really nothing".

"He made a shot, good, and that's kind of the extent of it from me," Brown said.

Simmons had 21 points against the Lions, connecting with nine of 14 field goals, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing seven assists.

The point forward skipped Australia's recent World Cup campaign to concentrate on improving his game and it was on show against the outgunned Lions.

The three-pointer came in the final seconds of the first half.

With the Philadelphia crowd and teammates egging him on to shoot a three and a Guangzhou defender giving him space, Simmons calmly sized up the shot and launched it.

The Wells Fargo Centre erupted and the 76ers mobbed a smiling Simmons.

The 76ers, after losing last season's starters JJ Redick and Jimmy Butler to other teams, debuted new signings Al Horford and Josh Richardson.

Horford had eight points and two rebounds while Richardson showed his scoring ability with 16 points, including sinking three of five three-pointers.

The 76ers' other Australian, Jonah Bolden, had six points.

In Memphis on Tuesday the New Zealand Breakers became the latest NBL team to face a drubbing from an NBA squad.

American teenager RJ Hampton's much-anticipated clash with the Memphis Grizzlies did not go well with his Breakers suffering a 108-94 loss.

Hampton, under the watchful eye of NBA scouts at FedExForum, had just two points after missing seven of eight field goals, but savoured the experience.

The NBL reported more than 100 NBA scouts attended the Breakers' training in Memphis on Tuesday to watch Hampton, who is tipped to be a top 20 pick in next year's NBA Draft.

The 196cm tall, 18-year-old point guard from Texas shocked the US basketball community when he opted not to go to an elite US college, turned professional and signed with the NBL's Breakers.

Grizzlies' power forward Jaren Jackson Jr led with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

Breakers' shooting guard Corey Webster had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds while forward Scotty Hopson added 16 points and eight rebounds.

It is the third year NBL teams have played NBA teams in the NBA pre-season.

The Breakers face Kiwi centre Steven Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, Melbourne United take on Kawhi Leonard's Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday and the Sacramento Kings on October 16.

Australian Associated Press