Nets guard Ben Simmons suffered a left knee contusion in Sunday’s 100-92 loss to the Orlando Magic at Barclays Heart. He completed with zero factors, three rebounds, 5 assists in a steal in 11 minutes and didn’t play within the second half.
After the sport, the three-time All-Star revealed that his knee concern is one thing he has been coping with for some time now. He stated it was bothering him previous to the sport however he opted to play by way of it.
“It’s been something I’ve been dealing with the last year-and-a-half,” Simmons stated. “So yeah, just got to monitor it, stay on it.”
Coming off of a 2023-24 season wherein he was restricted to only 15 video games due to a pinched nerve in his decrease again, the Nets have been cautious with Simmons’ utilization in 2024-25. The 6-10 guard has not performed in back-to-back units. Nevertheless, he has already eclipsed his whole video games performed final season and has appeared in 16 of Brooklyn’s first 21 matchups whereas taking part in 24.3 minutes per night time.
Simmons advised reporters on Sunday that his knee and decrease again points are linked. He had missed vital stretches over the previous two seasons due to knee points and acquired platelet-rich plasma injections twice in 2022-23.
“It’s all connected,” Simmons stated. “It’s simply managing it, I’m taking part in extra minutes, so my physique is attempting to catch up.
Simmons, 28, has averaged 5.4 factors 5.8 rebounds and 6.6 assists this season. His finest efficiency of the season got here in Wednesday’s 127-117 defeat of the Phoenix Suns, the place he completed with 14 factors, 9 rebounds and eight assists. He is not going to play in Monday’s street matchup in opposition to the Chicago Bulls.
JOHNSON WANTS TO STAY IN BROOKLYN?
In response to a report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Cam Johnson desires to remain in Brooklyn long-term regardless of rampant commerce hypothesis. The 28-year-old is within the midst of his finest offensive season as a professional and has averaged 18.1 factors per sport whereas taking pictures 49% from the sector and 42.2% from 3-point vary over his first 21 appearances.
“I want to build this,” Johnson advised Scotto. “I really like coach Jordi [Fernandez]. I like our staff. I think we’re headed in the right direction. I can’t tell them exactly what to do and how to proceed. The business will do what the business does. I don’t take it personally either way. For me, I’m invested in what we have. It’s been exciting to find progress and to see the potential. I want to be here and get this thing really turned around and back to winning basketball. I think we have the group to do it, and I think we have the assets and pieces to do it. Whatever they decide, no hard feelings.”
Johnson is owed $65.54 million by way of the 2026-27 season. Two weeks in the past, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that The Nets are “expected to be open for business” quickly concerning trades and that just about each participant on the roster can be made obtainable.
REBOUNDING STRUGGLES
The Nets’ lack of frontcourt depth was obvious of their weekend sequence in opposition to a bigger Orlando workforce. They had been out-rebounded 40-35 on Friday and 52-33 on Sunday.
“Yeah, it was a big part of it,” Fernandez stated. “I mean, 16 to 11. You know, we had more second-chance shots than them, so it’s just like, the pounding and how big they are at every single position. But I give my guys a lot of credit for fighting all the way through and not backing down and getting into those fights for 50/50 balls. And the fact that we shot more second chance shots, we just didn’t convert. We were 5-for-12 in second chance shots, and they were 4-for-9, so ended up losing the battle by five right there on the second chance, but yeah, they’re bigger.”
Beginning heart Nic Claxton has been battling by way of decrease again points. Dorian Finney-Smith and Noah Clowney have been sidelined with left ankle sprains. Nevertheless, fortunately for Brooklyn, its finest board man could possibly be returning quickly. Day’Ron Sharpe, who has not appeared in a sport this season due to a hamstring harm, might return to the lineup someday this week. The 23-year-old ranked third within the NBA in rebound proportion final season (.199) and second in offensive rebound proportion (.163).
