The Heat opener hit a BBL-record 12 sixes and 10 fours in his 140 off just 57 balls, reaching triple figures in 41 deliveries on the Gold Coast on Monday.
Finally out in the 17th over with the score at 192, the Heat then lost 4-5 to bring the visitors back into the contest.
Brown was on pace to beat Simmons' 39-ball mark before settling for a share with Glenn Maxwell for second and easily beating Chris Lynn's 49-ball century, the Heat's previous best set in 2015.
It was also the third-highest BBL score behind Maxwell (154 not out) and Marcus Stoinis (147 not out).
Brown reached 50 in 22 balls, the same amount he had faced on Friday when he made a sluggish 15 that featured countless air swings in a loss to the Sydney Sixers, who await the winners in Wednesday's SCG final.
140 runs.— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) 57 balls.22 boundaries.12 sixes.One unforgettable knock from Josh Brown. #BBL13 pic.twitter.com/EnVIklxeDIJanuary 22, 2024
The Carrara Stadium wicket had firmed since then, with Brown immediately into rhythm after the early loss of opening partner Charlie Wakim, who replaced leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson in a tactical change from the Heat.
The Strikers' spinners who were so effective in an upset of Perth Scorchers on Saturday had no answer, Brown punching sixes off the front and back foot as he peppered the mid-wicket and cover boundaries.
Nathan McSweeney (33 off 29) did his bit in a 119-run stand before he was dismissed, like Wakim, in a tight lbw decision.
Brown finished the 10th over with back-to-back sixes and only tasted some luck entering the 90s, when a skied pull shot landed between four Strikers fielders.
Brown hit fellow Brisbane product Cameron Boyce over mid-on for six to bring up triple figures, then seemed to get a second wind, smoking 38 runs off his next 14 balls before finally skying a catch to end the onslaught in the 17th over.
That triggered a run of wickets as the Heat could only squeeze 14 runs from the final three overs.
Boyce (2-50) and Lloyd Pope (2-39) were responsible for that salvage effort after copping Brown's treatment earlier, while David Payne (2-17 from three overs) was also effective.
