The Philadelphia 76ers assumed they wouldn’t face Ben Simmons in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, hence why Sixers head coach Doc Rivers declined to comment on his former player following a practice this week.
As Simmons suffered a nerve impingement in his back a few weeks ago, it was evident that Simmons’ playoff run with Brooklyn was in question. Simmons missed the final 24 games for Brooklyn during the regular season. Although he was absent from the court, Simmons remained on the bench with his teammates during the final stretch.
That won’t be the case on Saturday, though, when the Nets visit the Sixers for Game 1 of the first-round series. According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn confirmed that Simmons would stay in Brooklyn during the first set of games.
Also notable, Vaughn confirmed that the rest of the team is healthy. Therefore, former Sixers guard Seth Curry is expected to suit up and make another return to the Wells Fargo Center.
The Nets won’t rule out Simmons for the entire series at this time, but it’s apparent that the three-time All-Star has a slim chance of playing for the Nets again this season. With back issues lingering, Simmons will continue to rehab.
If Simmons doesn’t suit up for the Nets for the remainder of Brooklyn’s playoff run, it will mark the second-straight season the veteran sits out during the postseason.
The last time Simmons appeared in a playoff game was during the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals when the Sixers came up short against the Atlanta Hawks.
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