Ben Simmons returned to Brooklyn’s lineup Monday after having sat out the second night of a back-to-back.
But the Nets star acknowledged the possibility that sitting out the second night of back-to-backs could be a habit for at least the immediate future.
“I don’t even know. That’s going to be on them. I believe so. Me, I feel good. I feel ready. I think they’re just being smart about it. So yeah,” Simmons said.
After having been limited to just 42 mostly ineffective games over the prior two seasons due to herniated disks that eventually required back surgery, Simmons’ health issues are well-documented.
So when he played Friday in Chicago but missed Saturday night’s game versus Boston, it raised eyebrows.
Simmons’ return was a mixed bag in Monday’s 129-125 loss to the Bucks.
He had a staggering 15 rebounds and reignited the fast break, which scored just seven points in his absence but has produced at least 20 in all six of his starts.
But he had just two points and four assists, with defensive standouts Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez sitting in a deep drop.
“Just the way Brook plays, it’s hard for Ben to get downhill versus Brook when he’s sitting back there,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “Yeah, he said, ‘Come on in here, I’m right here waiting for you.’ So then we tried to take advantage of Ben’s screening and being in dribble handoffs so that we could get downhill using Brook back in pick-and-roll.”
After Nic Claxton has been listed as day-to-day with an ankle sprain, the center — who missed a sixth straight game — caused concern in saying it was a “high ankle sprain,” which often linger and can take weeks or months to heal.
But Vaughn downplayed any fears of long-term absence.
“He also talked about being day-to-day, so it’s just how he’s responding on the stimulus that he’s getting on a daily basis. He was on the court [Monday] morning, and we’ll see how he responds, and really, it is day-to-day,” said Vaughn. “If you look at the play, there was no contact … Nic stepped awkwardly, and so I’m not concerned that this is something that’s going to linger for a long time.
“I’m always cognizant of the athlete and want them to feel mentally and physically ready to perform. And so, I’ll wait and I’ll sit back, and when Nic is ready mentally and physically capable, and ready to perform, then he’ll be back on the court. … And Nic’s in a zone right now where he wants to feel comfortable about returning and playing at a high level, and I’ll support him and we will until he’s comfortable.”
Dorian Finney-Smith, starting his sixth straight for Claxton, was held to seven points on 3 of 12 shooting by the much bigger, longer tandem of Antetokounmpo and Lopez.
Lonnie Walker IV had 19 points in 22:37 after being listed as probable with left knee soreness.
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