Nets’ Simmons Out For Regular Season And Play-In Tournament

Topline

Nets guard Ben Simmons, who Brooklyn acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline in February in exchange for disgruntled star James Harden, will miss his team’s final four regular-season games, as well as the play-in tournament, Nets head coach Steve Nash told reporters Monday, extending what was already a season-long absence that carried over from his previous franchise.

Key Facts

Simmons has progressed in the Nets’ practices, but is still nowhere near playing, Nash said according to the Athletic, adding that Simmons’ season-long absence means he’ll likely have to go through more high-intensity workouts before he’s game-ready.

Simmons recently received an epidural shot for a herniated disc in his back, prolonging a return reportedly set for mid-March.

What To Watch For

The Nets will face the Houston Rockets tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., with just four games remaining in the regular season. Brooklyn sits as the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 40-38 record, locked into the NBA’s play-in tournament and potentially facing single elimination if they cannot move up to the No. 8 slot in the final week of the regular season.

Key Background

Simmons requested a trade from the 76ers prior to the start of the 2021-22 NBA season in August and refused to play a game for Philadelphia following a drama-filled end to his team’s previous season, in which many critics blamed Simmons for the team’s postseason collapse.