With constant uncertainty surrounding Ben Simmons’ return to the court, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski provided some insights into the rehabilitation process, reporting that the three-time all-star has been sidelined with an irritation of the L-4 Disc of his lower spine.
However, the organization remains hopeful – mirroring Steve Nash’s sentiments on Tuesday – that Simmons will get some game reps in before the regular-season wraps.
ESPN reporting with @RamonaShelburne: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Ben Simmons has remained sidelined with an irritation of the L-4 disc of the lower spine and hope remains he can return for a “couple” of regular-season games prior to the Eastern Conference playoffs. Story soon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 16, 2022
According to Wojnarowski, the potential targeted return date of this Friday’s game against the Portland Trailblazers had been nixed due to Simmons’ inability to go longer than a day or two in rehab without pain flaring up in his lower back.
In part with Simmons rehab process, which has included one on zero settings in practice, Steve Nash told assembled media on Wednesday afternoon that the former Rookie of the Year had received an epidural shot when the Nets were in Orlando last night during Brooklyn’s 150-108 win.
Steve Nash says Ben Simmons got an epidural while the Nets played in Orlando: pic.twitter.com/VW3aKPq5Py
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) March 16, 2022
Sitting in eighth place with a 36-33 record – 2.5 games behind the seventh-place Toronto Raptors – Wojnarowski reports the organization is hopeful Simmons recovery bodes well enough to return for a “couple” of regular-season games. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving becoming the first pair of teammates to record consecutive 50+ point games last night, Brooklyn could very much use Simmons’ abilities as they fight for playoff seeding down the stretch of the regular season.
