Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) loses control of the basketball as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Ben Simmons is dealing with an injury… again.
The Brooklyn Nets guard exited Saturday night’s 101-86 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves after suffering a leg injury. He exited the game with 8:04 remaining in the third quarter and did not return.
Interim head coach Kevin Ollie first labeled it as a “knee situation,” before the Nets clarified that it was “leg soreness.”
Regardless, Simmons underwent imaging to decipher the extent of the issue and his availability for Monday night’s matchup down in Memphis against the Grizzlies is questionable.
This is just the latest injury concern surrounding Simmons, who has appeared in just 56 games since being acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the deal that sent James Harden out of town at the 2022 trade deadline.
His back has been the main culprit of his absences — a pinched nerve forced him out for 37 games before his return on Jan. 29. The 27-year-old had appeared in eight of the Nets’ last 10 games in which he averaged 6.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 6.0 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per night.
Leg issues are believed to be a byproduct of the ceaseless back injuries, which has kept Simmons on an understandable minutes restriction since his return. He provided an inkling of just how pivotal a player he is for Brooklyn’s starting five in his first game back on Jan. 29 against the Utah Jazz. He nearly recorded a triple-double (10 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds) in 18 minutes of play while the Nets put up 147 points and won by 33.
But his inability to stay on the court coupled with the Nets’ transitional period post-Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving has led to a disappointing season. Brooklyn is 21-35 in 46 games this season and after going 8-16 in their previous 24 games, it fired head coach Jacque Vaughn.
Ollie has lost his first two games in charge by an average of 21.5 points.
Brooklyn Nets 2023-24 playoff odds
- To make playoffs: +1100
- To miss playoffs: -3500
Odds courtesy of DraftKings. For more, click here.
For more on Ben Simmons and the Nets, visit AMNY.com and TheBrooklynGame.com
Joe Pantorno
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