– ‣ Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has been downgraded to out for the game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a left lower back nerve impingement, after being initially listed as questionable.
– ‣ Simmons has missed a significant portion of the season, with a total of 46 games missed due to his back issue, which a specialist has described as “reoccurring” and “unpredictable.”
– ‣ Despite Simmons’ and Cam Thomas’ absences, the Brooklyn Nets have managed a recent upturn in form, winning three of their last four games, and are listed as 10-point favorites at home against the Memphis Grizzlies according to NBA sportsbooks.
Ben Simmons is out tonight due to lower back nerve impingement, per @NYPost_Lewis
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
Details
Oh boy, the Brooklyn Nets are in a bit of a pickle, aren’t they? Ben Simmons, their guard, is sitting out Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Why? Well, it’s his left lower back. Nerve impingement, they call it. Meghan Triplett from YES Network dropped the news.
Initially, Simmons was just “questionable.” You know, the usual leg soreness that had him benched for three games. But now, he’s definitely not hitting the court. This season’s been rough on him, missing a staggering 46 games.
Back in November, a specialist had a chat with The New York Post’s Brian Lewis. The gist? Simmons’ back issues could keep coming back. Unpredictable, they said. And that disc he had surgery on? Never going to be the same.
There was this tweet, right? It confirmed Simmons was out because of that pesky nerve impingement. Social media, always on top of things.
After the Nets clinched a win against the Atlanta Hawks, Kevin Ollie, the interim coach, had some thoughts. Simmons and Cam Thomas are both “day-to-day.” Ollie’s hopeful, leaning heavily on the medical staff to get these guys back in shape.
So, Monday night’s game against the Grizzlies? Simmons is out. It’s a bummer because this same injury had him on the sidelines from early November to late January. With Simmons and Thomas out, players like Lonnie Walker IV and the Dennises (Schroder and Smith) might get more playtime.
Despite the setbacks, Simmons has managed to play 15 games this season. His stats? Not too shabby. Averaging 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. And let’s not forget his 58.1% field goal shooting.
Remember February 10th? Simmons was on fire against the San Antonio Spurs. Season-high 13 points in just 21 minutes. Impressive, right?
The Nets have this weird Monday curse, it seems. They’re 3-8 for Monday games. But Memphis? They’ve got a decent record against Brooklyn, 7-2 in their last nine encounters. However, against Eastern Conference teams? Not so hot, with a 1-7 record.
Lately, Memphis has been struggling, losing five straight. The Nets, on the other hand, have a slightly better record at home than away. And guess what? They’re the favorites to win against Memphis, according to NBA sportsbooks.
So, that’s the scoop. It’s going to be an interesting game, for sure. Let’s see if the Nets can keep up their momentum or if the Grizzlies will break their losing streak.
