Ben Simmons could return to Nets' lineup Saturday after missing a game with knee injury
Ben Simmons Credit: Getty Images/Sarah Stier
Ben Simmons finished free throw drills by himself on one end of the court after practice on Friday. He was stationary, mindful of his left knee contusion.
Yet there’s still a chance that Simmons could suit up for the Nets on Saturday in Philadelphia. Coach Jacque Vaughn said he was a partial participant during practice and that there’s a “hopeful expectation” he will play after sitting out Wednesday’s game.
“We tried to go up and down a little bit and so we held him out of that portion of practice,” Vaughn said. “He was able to go through some sets and walk through some things defensively.”
Vaughn added that the team will make its final call after Simmons’ treatments Friday and Saturday morning in Philadelphia.
With the Nets off on Thursday, Simmons had an extra day to rest. Vaughn said before Wednesday’s game that he had experienced some swelling in his left knee. Simmons was injured on Monday during the fourth quarter in his first game back since Nov. 6.
Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, said Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter) that Wednesday’s absence was precautionary and that he’d be available to play not just Saturday but on Monday when the Nets host Golden State.
Simmons, who was traded by the 76ers to the Nets in February 2022, played three games against his former team last season. Two of those games were in Philadelphia and Simmons scored in double figures both times. He also had 11 assists on Nov. 22, 2022.
While Simmons is expected to suit up, his former 76ers teammate, Joel Embiid, will not. Embiid was ruled out Thursday with a lateral meniscus injury in his left knee.
Embiid had 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists when the 76ers beat the Nets at Barclays Center earlier this season. Still, the Nets will have to contend with newly minted All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who scored 51 points on Thursday in a win over the Jazz.
The Nets have lost five consecutive regular-season games against the 76ers and were swept by them in the first round of last season’s playoffs.
“We’ve been losing to them a lot,” Nic Claxton said. “So there’s definitely an added motivation for us to come out and get a win. It’s an Eastern Conference opponent and we’re tired of taking L’s to them.”
Dorian Finney-Smith said he’ll miss his third game in a row with a sprained ankle. Day’Ron Sharpe also remains out with a hyperextended left knee.
Finney-Smith said that Friday was the first day he started running on the court since his injury last Saturday. He hopes to return Monday but knows he has to just wait things out.
“I don’t like sitting but I got to take care of myself,” Finney-Smith said. “Just one of those injuries where you hurt your ankle and it’s weak, so it’s easy for you to turn it again.”
Simmons potentially being back cushions the blow of another starter being down, and the Nets will take all the help they can get as they search for their first win against the 76ers since March 10, 2022.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
