Since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets five weeks ago, Ben Simmons has yet to debut this season and is dealing with an “irritation of the L-4 disc of the lower spine.” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Brooklyn hopes Simmons can play in a “couple” of regular-season games before the playoffs begin.
“There had been an original target for a return on Friday vs. the Portland Trail Blazers, sources said,” Wojnarowski wrote. “But that became impossible in recent weeks based on Simmons’ inability to go more than a consecutive day or two in rehab without pain flaring up in the lower back and resetting his timeline, sources said.