Nets' Ben Simmons shows flashes of former self in preseason against Lakers
Nets guard Ben Simmons shoots around during practice at the Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on Thursday. Credit: Errol Anderson
LAS VEGAS — Any worries that Ben Simmons would be tentative in the Nets’ first preseason game were gone the second time he touched the ball Monday night.
Simmons drove to the basket with LeBron James guarding him and made a hook shot over the 21-year superstar. It was the Nets’ first basket and a good sign for Simmons’ first appearance in a game since Feb. 15.
Simmons helped provide the Nets with positives in their first preseason game, a 129-126 loss to the Lakers at T-Mobile Arena.
His first half was promising. He scored 10 points in 14 first-half minutes and showed no ill effects from the back injury that hobbled him last season. He attacked the paint often, even had a breakaway dunk in the second quarter and hung on the rim for emphasis.
“It’s the best I’ve felt in two years, definitely,” Simmons said. “I’ve known how I felt for a while now and I’ve worked really hard to put myself in this position, so I know I’m more than ready to be here and able to compete and help this team win.”
Cam Thomas, who was a surprise fifth starter, also had a good night. With Cam Johnson out with a hamstring injury, coach Jacque Vaughn wanted Thomas’ scoring ability to space the floor. So Thomas started alongside Simmons, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton.
Thomas had seven points in the first quarter and finished with a team-high 26. Vaughn, however, was more impressed with the other skills he showed, including facilitating and boxing out on rebounds.
“He’s grown from Year 1 to Year 3, and part of that is knowing how you can affect the game on both ends of the floor, be accountable on both ends of the floor,” Vaughn said. “So that was the reason for starting tonight.”
The Nets’ defense, however, was not a positive. Vaughn spent the first week of training camp emphasizing schemes such as drop coverage to prevent drives to the rim. The Lakers exploited that, shooting 8-for-17 on three-pointers in the first quarter and 52.9% from the field in the first half.
The Nets went from leading 35-34 after one to trailing 75-61 at halftime. The Lakers were 15-for-22 on two-point field goals and capped the half with Jaxson Hayes’ putback slam at the buzzer.
Thomas, however, kept the Nets close in the third. He scored 17 points in the period and shot 6-for-7. His final three-pointer tied the score at 88 before the Lakers took the lead on a pair of free throws.
“Obviously just trying to show what you worked on this summer,” Thomas said pregame. “You know, however many minutes I get or how much I play, I’m just going to try to produce the best way I can [and] just show that I have improved in all aspects of my game.”
Dinwiddie had 12 points and shot 4-for-5 on threes. Aside from Thomas, the Nets rested their starters in the second half. Bridges had eight points and shot 2-for-7. Day’Ron Sharpe played 1:33 in the first quarter, left with a sprained left ankle and did not return.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
