Nets' Ben Simmons remains sidelined with 'hip contusion'
Ben Simmons of the Nets dribbles during a game against the Bucks at Barclays Center on Nov. 6. Credit: Errol Anderson
Ben Simmons missed his third consecutive game on Sunday and the Nets provided additional clarity on his left hip issue.
Simmons’ injury was changed from hip soreness to a hip contusion. Coach Jacque Vaughn said it wasn’t a new diagnosis but rather more insight into the original injury.
“We’re just a little bit more specific in the reporting, but nothing really to add from the original injury,” Vaughn said before the Nets hosted the Wizards. “Still day-to-day. So he got some more treatment and we’ll see how he responds on a daily basis.”
The NBA changed its rules this season. Teams now can use “soreness” or similar variations as an injury designation for only two consecutive games.
After playing in the Nets’ first five games, Simmons has played once in the last five. He was held out Nov. 4 because of injury maintenance.
Rookies in the G League
First-round draft picks Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney made their G League debuts this weekend as the season began Friday.
Friday was Whitehead’s first game since having offseason foot surgery before the NBA Draft. He started and played 20 minutes for the Long Island Nets, scoring five points, shooting 1-for-9 from the field and grabbing four rebounds against Raptors 905. He didn’t play Saturday against Greensboro in the second night of a back-to-back.
Clowney had 12 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks before fouling out Friday. He followed up that performance with 19 points and 12 rebounds against Greensboro.
Second-round pick Jalen Wilson, who has appeared in two NBA games, had 33 points and 10 rebounds on Friday for the Long Island Nets. He had nine points and five rebounds Saturday.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
