Nets guard Seth Curry, left, dribbles toward Portland Trail Blazers...

Nets guard Seth Curry, left, dribbles toward Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.  Credit: AP/Craig Mitchelldyer

PHILADELPHIA — Ben Simmons got the headlines and the boos in his playing return to Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

Nets teammate Seth Curry circled this one on his calendar, too, even though he knew he wasn’t going to be the focus.

Curry was part of the Simmons/James Harden trade. He played for the Nets in Philadelphia after the trade on March 10 and scored 24 points in a blowout victory. Simmons was booed that night even though he was in street clothes on the bench.

Curry is still trying to get into top shape after offseason ankle surgery.

“Just steadily getting better,” Curry said before playing almost 24 minutes against 76ers Tuesday night and scoring 14 points in the Nets’ 115-106 loss.

“I mean just up and down, fighting some things consistency-wise of feeling 100%. Had some good nights, had some slower nights where I’m not all the way there, but it’s a long process. Long season and eventually I’ll get to where I need to be.”

Curry thought he would be in Philadelphia for a long time. He said the trade was tough for him at first. “It was a little emotional, just because I felt like I had a good rhythm here,” Curry said. “We were a good team. I wanted to give us a chance in the playoffs and see how we were. But at the same time, it’s a business. I understand that.

“It‘s not the first time or last time, probably, I’ll be traded. So for me going in, I know Brooklyn wanted me for a reason. So it was my job to go in there and produce and try to help that team get into the playoffs last year. I kept that same mindset, to keep my same rhythm and routine, and ended up playing well last season even though it was a hectic time.”

Watanabe out

Yuta Watanabe (hamstring) did not play, but has not been ruled out for Wednesday’s game at Toronto, coach Jacque Vaughn said.

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