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Maybe Ben Simmons shouldn’t play in both games of a back-to-back just yet.
After playing 29 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, Simmons left in the third quarter of Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons with left knee soreness.
It is the second time Simmons has left the second game of a back-to-back this season due to a left knee issue. One day after Brooklyn’s Nov. 27 win against the Portland Trail Blazers, Simmons left after 11 minutes of action against the Orlando Magic with a lateral left upper calf strain.
He played 20 minutes and did not score on three shot attempts while dishing seven assists before checking out against the Pistons.
Simmons’ availability was already in question given both the nature of Brooklyn’s schedule and Simmons’ recent injury history.
After sitting out the entire 2021-22 NBA season due to a combination of mental health issues and lower back soreness, Simmons underwent off-season back surgery. He has reported knee soreness twice this season and said the knee issues are connected to the off-season back surgery because the knee has had to compensate for the back.
Simmons is averaging 7.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in his first season in Brooklyn. He arrived with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond in last season’s James Harden deal.
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