After several months of absence, the Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons returned to action in Monday night’s 147-114 win over the Utah Jazz. And it was quite a comeback for Simmons, as he almost put up a triple-double in just 18 minutes on the floor.
Simmons hasn’t played since early November, dealing with a lingering back issue. He started the game against the Jazz on the bench and was on a minutes restriction, but that didn’t stop him from making an immediate impact.
The former All-Star was aggressive on both sides of the ball while setting up his teammates for easy points, especially in the first quarter, which saw him get six assists. Simmons finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists while adding one steal and one block.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Simmons said that he believes he had a successful return, but mainly because his team ended up winning.
“We got the win, so yes,” Simmons said via ESPN. “That’s the main objective for me, and that’s really all I care about.”
If Simmons continues to play this way and manages to stay healthy, he could be a valuable addition to the Nets as they look to turn around their disappointing first half of the 2023-24 season. Brooklyn team has won just three out of their last 10 games and currently sits at No. 10 in the Eastern Conference with a 19-27 record.
