The Nets once more performed with out Ben Simmons or with out a lot readability, at the least launched publicly, about Simmons’ knee.
Simmons, who had been listed as questionable, missed his second straight sport with left knee soreness throughout Monday’s 121-104 victory over the Lakers at Barclays Heart, the place he joined Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Anthony Davis as standouts unable to play.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned he hopes Simmons might be prepared for Wednesday’s sport in Boston and is “displaying indicators of progress, which is sweet.”
Simmons exited Thursday’s loss to the Pistons within the third quarter whereas enjoying in a sport for a second consecutive day. He additionally sustained knee soreness in late November whereas enjoying on the again finish of a back-to-back, and he proceeded to overlook the subsequent 4 video games.
It’s potential the workload caught up with Simmons, who underwent offseason again surgical procedure and has mentioned he feels the process is said to the knee points. However Vaughn mentioned, as of Monday, he had not talked with Simmons about the reason for the soreness.
“We haven’t gotten to specifics,” Vaughn mentioned. “I feel all the pieces’s proper now been based mostly round getting him again to wholesome, to a capability to play as quickly as potential.”
It’s unclear whether or not Simmons has wanted an MRI examination. Vaughn reiterated that ideally he desires all of his gamers obtainable for each sport. He mentioned he has not talked with Simmons about doubtlessly sitting one sport when the Nets have video games on two straight days.
“I feel our conversations [with Simmons] might be actual and what can we deal with from a administration and cargo perspective, cumulative hundreds throughout the board over the course of video games,” Vaughn mentioned of Simmons, who didn’t play final season with psychological well being considerations and the again damage. “So all these questions might be on the desk to ensure that us to maintain our group wholesome and complete as we development towards the top of the 12 months.”
Earlier to his setback, Simmons had been struggling to simply accept a bigger offensive load with Durant injured. In seven video games after Durant sprained his MCL, Simmons averaged six factors and eight.3 assists whereas displaying the identical hesitation in on the lookout for his offensive sport. The Nets misplaced 5 of these seven.
T.J. Warren missed a second straight sport with a left shin contusion. Vaughn mentioned the wing is also hopeful to play Wednesday and is progressing.
James sat out with left ankle soreness on the entrance finish of a back-to-back, with the Lakers enjoying on the Backyard on Tuesday.
“Simply managing his foot, experiencing some actually vital soreness, and so going with the concept to sort of ease off him somewhat bit,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned.
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