Ben Simmons will miss Monday’s game between the Nets and the Warriors due to a lower back injury.
The Nets, who got nine rebounds and five assists from Simmons in defeating the 76ers on Saturday, will start the week by hosting back-to-back games against Golden State and the Mavericks.
Simmons missed 38 consecutive games this season with a pinched nerve in his lower back, but returned for one game on Jan. 29 and had 11 assists and no turnovers, but landed awkwardly while trying to block a layup in the fourth quarter. jazz.
He missed the Nets’ next game (Wednesday’s loss to the Suns) with a left knee contusion, but returned after two days of treatment.
Head coach Jacques Vaughn said before Saturday’s game that he didn’t expect Simmons’ knee injury to last long.
Simmons added that his knee was feeling good, although his recent absences were “pretty annoying.”
He logged 32 minutes in two games, but Vaughn did not have a schedule for when Simmons’ minutes restriction would be lifted. It’s based on how the stars react after each game, the coach said.
However, Simmons has been a notable jolt to the Nets’ offense since joining the second unit, pushing the tempo even though he didn’t attempt a shot against his former team in Philadelphia, helping to make the Nets’ He contributed to “Playing Style”. they are made for that.
“Obviously he’s still figuring out how to come back. This is his second game back,” Cam Thomas said. “But…Ben is just being Ben.”
Bourne wasn’t ready to name Thomas the full-time starter, even after the Nets guard recorded his seventh 40-point game of his career and continued to underperform recently.
With Simmons coming off the bench after his return and Dorian Finney-Smith sidelined, Thomas has started the last four games and is averaging 31.8 points, which is significantly higher than his 21.2 points this season.
Against Philadelphia, he made 14 of 26 shots and scored 21 points in the third quarter.
“We’ll see if we’re going to be healthy,” Vaughn said. “I don’t know what our starting unit will be going forward, but I think this group is in a position to win games at the moment. And I always consider whether that’s the best option for the team.”
Thomas started 20 of the Nets’ first 22 games before Vaughn traded him for Finney-Smith on Dec. 29 against the Wizards.
Nic Claxton grabbed 10 rebounds in the first 15 minutes against the 76ers, had a career-high 13 rebounds in the first half, and finished two short of his season best with 15 total rebounds.
Claxton also recorded his 19th double-double of the season, adding 12 points and four blocks against a Philadelphia lineup without Joel Embiid.
“We need Nick to play like that every night,” Thomas said.
Finney-Smith (left ankle sprain) and Dayron Sharpe (left knee hyperextension) also missed Monday. Dennis Smith Jr. (right foot soreness) did not play Saturday after being evaluated for the injury before the game, but is listed as possible.
