© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Brooklyn Nets' Simmons and Thomas still sidelined with injuries
Despite picking up two straight critical wins at home against the Atlanta Hawks to bolster their late-season Play-In push, the Brooklyn Nets remain wondering about the health and ongoing recovery of both Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas.
Both Simmons (left leg soreness) and Thomas (right ankle sprain) were unavailable in the team's Saturday action against the Hawks — their third-straight games of inactivity for Brooklyn.
Still out for the meantime
During the postgame of their Saturday 114-102 dub over Atlanta, interim head coach Kevin Ollie announced that both Ben and Cam are classified as out on a day-to-day basis as the duo remains in the team's recovery chamber.
“I just know they’re getting back healthy,” Ollie said. “Slowly but surely, they’re getting back on the court, so they’re just still day-to-day. We trust in our medical staff with all our faith that they’re doing the right things off the court to get better and doing their rehab.”
Trust the process
For the second straight year, Simmons hasn't been healthy once again for the Nets. The nerve impingement in his lower back cost him to miss 38 straight games from mid-November to early January, and his current leg woes serve up as the newest concern that tests his all-around service for the ball club. The three-time All-Star only played 15 of the 60 games that Brooklyn logged throughout this regular season.
For Thomas, his latest ankle issues have been familiar as he endured the same injury back in November that shut him down for nine straight games. The 22-year-old guard, who is averaging 20.9 per game, is a vital piece for Brooklyn with his microwave scoring ability.
Despite the continuing wait for the two franchise stars, Ollie is keeping his head high that both Ben and Cam will eventually find their way back to the lineup.
“I know they’re constantly doing their rehab, trying to get better so they can be contributing to this team’s success going forward, so it’s just day-to-day now, but hopefully we’ll see them soon.”
