Nets provide updates on Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, and Dennis Smith Jr.
The Brooklyn Nets have been dealing with injuries ever since the beginning of the season when starters Cam Johnson (calf) and Nic Claxton (ankle) picked up injuries in the season opener. Those injuries kept them out of action for seven and eight games, respectively.
Right now, despite both Johnson and Claxton coming back from their injuries and still getting back into the swing of things, Brooklyn is still dealing with injuries to two other players that are important to the rotation. The Nets have been without guards Ben Simmons (back) and Cam Thomas (ankle) for the past five games, with Simmons missing the past six.
To add to the misfortune, Dennis Smith Jr. missed Sunday’s 121-99 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers with a back sprain and will be missing his second straight game on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks with the same ailment. The Nets gave updates on all three players and here they are from Erik Slater of ClutchPoints and Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily:
Ben Simmons Hasn't Been Able To Practice
Ben Simmons has been unlucky when it comes to injuries over the past few seasons. In this season, in what was originally reported as a hip injury became a nerve impingement in his left lower back that sounds problematic.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said on Tuesday that Simmons hasn’t been able to practice because of his injury and is just doing what he can at the moment. Brooklyn is expected to give a full update on Simmons on Wednesday.
Jacque Vaughn said Ben Simmons has not been able to participate in practice:
“He’s just still doing what he was doing as far as off the court stuff, but not in practice or anything of that nature.”
The Nets are expected to provide a full update later today.
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 21, 2023
Cam Thomas Is Progressing And Won't Need Another MRI
The high-scoring Cam Thomas has been arguably Brooklyn’s best player this season with the way that he was playing before his injury. However, with one false step, he has had to miss significant time and it looks like the Nets’ offense is suffering as a result.
In some good news. Vaughn said that Thomas is making progress in his recovery from his ankle injury and that he won’t need another MRI. That sounds like Thomas should be back soon if there are no setbacks.
Jacque Vaughn says Cam Thomas is making progress towards a return:
"He is heading in the right direction… To my knowledge, he won't need another MRI. He's building towards getting back on the floor."
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 21, 2023
Dennis Smith Jr. To Get An MRI On His Lower Back
Dennis Smith Jr. is one of the players on the Nets that has been willing to do whatever it takes to make an impact for his team. However, at some point recently, he picked up a back injury that Brooklyn is describing as a back sprain.
Vaughn isn’t sure when Smith picked up the injury, but it is significant enough for him to miss at least two games. He did say that Smith is not traveling with the team to Atlanta as he gets an MRI on his lower back.
Dennis Smith Jr. will not travel to Atlanta with the Nets, is scheduled for an MRI on his lower back.
— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) November 21, 2023
