Nets guard Ben Simmons was ruled out of Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns because of a left knee contusion suffered in Monday’s 147-114 defeat of the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center, which was his first appearance in an NBA game since Nov. 6.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn said Simmons is considered day-to-day going forward. He had an MRI exam on Wednesday that revealed no structural damage, but there is swelling in his left knee. Brooklyn will face the 76ers, Simmons’ former team, on Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
76ers star Joel Embiid will miss Thursday’s game against Utah and will undergo further evaluation on his left knee in the next 24 hours, so his status for Saturday’s matchup with Brooklyn is unclear as well.
“It was a sequence of [Ben] reporting he wasn’t feeling good, then we got an MRI and the swelling revealed itself,” Vaughn said.
You can’t make this stuff up, yet somehow it is strangely on brand. Simmons had missed 38-straight games entering Monday because of a pinched nerve in his lower back that required an epidural injection on Dec. 2. He suffered his latest injury with 3:34 left in the fourth quarter against Utah after blocking Talen Horton-Tucker at the rim and landing awkwardly on top of him.
It was Simmons’ only block of the night in a phenomenal return game where he stuffed the stat sheet. He also finished with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting, eight rebounds and 11 assists in just 18 minutes. Brooklyn registered a season-high 41 assists, knocked down 21 3-pointers and enjoyed its largest margin of victory of the season.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Simmons said he “felt good” and that it was “just another hit”. He was listed as probable in Tuesday’s injury report, downgraded to questionable Wednesday afternoon then subsequently ruled out later in the evening at 5:15 p.m.
“Unfortunately, success and growth are not always linear, but he’ll get there,” said Simmons’ agent, Bernard Lee of Thread Sports Management. “I think we were all inspired by watching what he did on Monday, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what the reception would be. When he checked in the building came alive. He’s special. It’ll happen.”
In a Q&A session with NBA fans on X, Lee said that Simmons will play on Saturday in Philadelphia “and the one after that”. However, until Brooklyn reveals its next official update on his status, it is unclear when he will return to the court after an exciting one-game cameo appearance.
Simmons has appeared in just seven of the Nets’ first 47 games this season.
“If I ask our guys to keep hoping and be resilient, then I have to be the same way,” Vaughn said. “And so that’s where we are. I thoroughly do believe that Ben will play consistent minutes for us. I have to keep that belief, and you saw the impact that he has on our team when he plays. It was evident and clear as day. And so I do look forward to him getting through this swelling and getting back out on the floor for us.”
NBA DRAFT UPDATE
The NBA Draft has expanded from one night to two. The first round will be held at Barclays Center on Wednesday, June 26, while the second round was moved to ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York on Thursday, June 27. Both rounds will begin at 8 p.m. ET.
“Based on feedback about the NBA Draft format from basketball executives around the league and my own experience in draft rooms, we believe that teams will benefit from being able to regroup between rounds and having additional time to make decisions during the second round,” NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars said in a statement. “Two nights of primetime coverage will also enhance the viewing experience for our fans and further showcase the draftees.”
SCHEDULE UPDATE
One of the Nets’ upcoming road games against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 24 will now be played at 8 p.m. local time. Brooklyn is 0-1 against Minnesota this season.
