The constructive momentum towards a wholesome Ben Simmons carrying the Nets again to relevance lasted one sport.
Simmons was set to overlook Wednesday’s matchup with the Suns at Barclays Heart with a left knee contusion, a step again after a long-awaited step ahead.
Simmons — who had sat for almost three months with a nerve impingement in his decrease again — seemed like his outdated self in a powerful 18 minutes throughout Monday’s win over the Jazz.
However within the closing minutes, he went as much as block a layup from Talen Horton-Tucker, who didn’t rise a lot for the shot.
Simmons’ proper leg landed atop Horton-Tucker, whereas his left leg landed onerous and awkwardly on the ground.
Simmons remained on the ground for a couple of moments earlier than rising and subsequently was subbed out of a sport by which the Nets had been cruising.
Simmons has a historical past of left knee points and acquired platelet-rich plasma injections final season when the knee bothered him.
His agent, Bernard Lee, prompt that the participant and crew are merely being cautious.
“That is being executed as he has a small irritated spot,” Lee wrote on Twitter, “the thought is by being cautious right here with 3 days till the subsequent sport this may be put to relaxation and he can proceed to work his manner again to 10/10 sport form.”
After lacking 38 straight video games from early November to late January, Simmons missed another.
In his one-game return, Simmons demonstrated how a lot the crew wants him.
The Nets performed like they hardly ever had this season, pushing the tempo and shifting the ball whereas destroying Utah.
Taking part in simply in spurts off the bench, Simmons flirted with a triple-double (10 factors on 5-of-5 capturing with 11 assists and eight rebounds).
However the actuality that his return lasted one sport earlier than one other setback underscores the sturdiness questions that can encompass Simmons till he can often seem on the courtroom.