Simmons (back) will be available for Monday's game against the Pelicans.
Simmons was sidelined for the second leg of the Nets' back-to-back set Saturday against the Cavaliers due to injury management for his back. He'll suit up for Monday's game, though he'll likely come off the bench as Nic Claxton has started at center in three straight games. Through seven regular-season games, Simmons is averaging 6.1 points, 6.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds over 24.9 minutes per game.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Fills box score in reserve role
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Simmons tallied eight points (4-6 FG), eight assists, seven rebounds and one steal across 27 minutes in Friday's 108-104 overtime loss to the Celtics.
After starting in each of his previous six appearances this season, Simmons shifted to a reserve role Friday as Nic Claxton started at center for a second straight game. Simmons still managed to get his typical allotment of minutes and finished the contest with a team-high assist total. The Nets have already ruled Simmons out for the second leg of their back-to-back set Saturday versus the Cavaliers due to injury management related to his back, according to Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Coming off bench Friday
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Simmons won't start Friday's game against the Celtics, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Simmons will come off the bench for the first time this season, as Nic Claxton has taken over as the starting center after being limited to begin the campaign while working his way back from a preseason hamstring injury. Simmons has averaged 5.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.4 steals-plus-blocks in 24.5 minutes per game across six appearances this season.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Good to go against Boston
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Simmons (back) isn't on the injury report for Friday's game versus the Celtics, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
Simmons will return to action Friday after sitting out Brooklyn's previous outing. With Nic Claxton returning to the team's starting lineup, Simmons will likely come off the bench and play around his season average of 24.3 minutes. However, the 28-year-old is expected to sit out the second leg of the Nets' back-to-back against Cleveland on Saturday.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Officially out Monday
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Simmons (back) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Grizzlies.
As expected, Simmons won't play in the second half of Brooklyn's back-to-back set after posting four points (2-4 FG), six rebounds, six assists and a steal in 24 minutes during Sunday's loss to the Pistons. This marks Simmons' second absence of the season, both coming during back-to-back sets, and he remains on a minutes limit when healthy, playing between 24 and 26 minutes in each of his first six appearances this season.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Available Sunday, out Monday
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Simmons (back) is available for Sunday's game against the Pistons, but the Nets plan to hold him out for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies for lower-back injury management, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.
On Sunday, Simmons will make his sixth appearance in the Nets' first seven games of the season, with his other absence having come back on Oct. 29 in the front end of a back-to-back set. The Nets will likely continue to have Simmons sit out half of back-to-back sets for the foreseeable future in an effort to keep him healthy after he hasn't played more than 50 games in a season since 2020-21. Simmons has started in all five of his appearances thus far, and he's coming off a season-high 11-assist performance during Friday's 120-112 win over the Bulls.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Iffy for Sunday
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Simmons is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Pistons due to lower back injury management, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports.
Simmons sat out the first leg of a back-to-back earlier this season, so it wouldn't be surprising for him to miss Sunday's contest. If Simmons is ultimately ruled out against Detroit, Nic Claxton and Noah Clowney would be candidates to receive increased playing time.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Part of first unit
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Simmons will start Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.
Simmons got the first leg of Brooklyn's back-to-back set off Tuesday, but he's active and starting Wednesday. With Nic Claxton (hamstring) sitting out, Simmons should see a minutes load in the mid-20s. He's averaging 5.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists across 24.0 minutes per game.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Available to play
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Simmons (back) is available for Wednesday's game against Memphis, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
After sitting out Tuesday's game against the Nuggets for rest, Simmons has the green light to return and isn't listed on the official injury report. Going forward, Simmons is expected to play in just one game of back-to-back sets for the foreseeable future.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Won't play Tuesday
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Simmons has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Nuggets due to lower back injury management, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Simmons will get the first night of a back-to-back set off for precautionary reasons, and he's expected to continue sitting out one half of back-to-back sets throughout the season. Nic Claxton is the obvious candidate to replace Simmons in the starting lineup, but the former has been on a minute restriction to start the season following a hamstring injury during training camp. Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson and Shake Milton are also candidates for slightly more minutes in Simmons' absence. Simmons should be back in action for Wednesday's matchup with the Grizzlies.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Remains in starting lineup
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Simmons will start Friday's game against the Magic, Evan Barnes of Newsday reports.
Coach Jordi Fernandez said Nic Claxton (hamstring) will play more Friday after he saw only 15 minutes before being ejected from Wednesday's season-opening loss to Atlanta. However, the big man will still come off the bench, so Simmons remains in the starting lineup along with Dennis Schroder, Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Serviceable production Wednesday
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Simmons registered six points (3-4 FG), five rebounds, eight assists and one block in 24 minutes during Wednesday's 120-116 loss to the Hawks.
Simmons chipped in across the board, delivering a modest yet encouraging performance. After a number of years battling injuries, Simmons remaining on the floor is the top priority. While his six turnovers were less than ideal, if he can continue to re-adjust to life in the NBA, he should be able to establish himself as a must-roster player, with more value for those not seeking points production.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Part of first unit
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Simmons will start Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Hawks, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.
Simmons will start at the center position Wednesday, filling in for Nic Claxton, who's on a minutes restriction after missing the preseason with a hamstring injury. Simmons appeared in 15 games (12 starts) for Brooklyn in 2023-24, averaging 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists across 23.9 minutes.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Available to play Friday
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Simmons (rest) will be available and in the starting lineup for Friday's preseason game against the Raptors, Sharif Phillips-Keaton of USA Today reports.
Simmons didn't play in Wednesday's matchup against the 76ers, but he will suit up for the preseason finale. This will be Simmons' third appearance of the preseason, and unless something happens Friday, he should be available for the regular-season opener against the Hawks next Wednesday.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Healthy scratch Wednesday
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Simmons will be rested for Wednesday's preseason contest against Philadelphia, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Simmons' next opportunity for preseason action comes Friday versus Toronto. Lewis notes that "the Nets always planned on him playing three of the four preseason tilts," which seemingly puts him on track to play Friday.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Efficient performance Monday
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Simmons racked up 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-2 FT), five rebounds and two assists across 13 minutes in Monday's 131-92 preseason win over the Wizards.
The Nets are being extremely cautious with Simmons due to his lengthy injury history, but it seems he'll be ready to start the regular season. Based on what the Nets have been showing in the preseason, Simmons could open the campaign in a starting role alongside Dennis Schroder in the backcourt. Simmons made just 15 appearances for Brooklyn in 2023-24.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Starting in preseason opener
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Simmons is in the starting five for Tuesday's preseason game versus the Clippers, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.
Simmons will start as a small-ball center Tuesday with Nic Claxton (hamstring) out. Simmons is starting off the 2024-25 campaign healthy after making just 15 appearances for Brooklyn last season.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Good to go for training camp
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Simmons (back) will participate in the Nets' training camp beginning Oct. 1 without any restrictions, Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reports.
Simmons underwent a microscopic partial discectomy to alleviate nerve impingement in his lower back in March but appears to have made a full recovery. The 28-year-old guard made just 15 appearances, including 12 starts, for Brooklyn in 2023-24, averaging 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 23.9 minutes. While injuries will always be a concern for Simmons, he could be heavily featured for a rebuilding Nets team in 2024-25.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: On track for training camp
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Nets general manager Sean Marks said Wednesday that "all signs point to" Simmons (back) being available to start next season's training camp, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.
Simmons underwent a successful microscopic partial discectomy in mid-March to alleviate the nerve impingement in his lower back, marking yet another injury-related setback for the 2017 No. 1 overall pick. The 27-year-old has played in only 57 games across the last three seasons, but when available, he has shown he can still be an active defender and excellent playmaker. Simmons has one more year remaining on his current contract, a five-year extension he signed with Philadelphia in 2019.
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Nets' Ben Simmons: Goes under knife
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Simmons underwent a successful microscopic partial discectomy Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery for training camp next season, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
Simmons discectomy will work to alleviate the nerve impingement in his lower back. Removing part of the problematic disc in Simmons' lower spine addresses the root cause of the series of injuries that limited him to just 15 appearances this season. The 27-year-old has suited up for just 57 contests across the last three campaigns, and his body breaking down has been a serious matter over that span. Simmons teases rare two-way play at his size for a ballhandler, but a lengthy rehab and re-strengthening process will now ensue in advance of the 2024-25 campaign -- for which he is owed $40.3 million by Brooklyn in the final year of his contract.