Brooklyn and Ben Simmons have avoided another injury setback.
Sources told The Post that Simmons is expected to be available for Saturday’s tilt in Philadelphia against his former 76ers squad after his late scratch from Wednesday’s loss to Phoenix raised alarms of another lengthy layoff.
Simmons had missed nearly three months — 38 straight games — with nerve impingement in his lower back before making an impressive return in Monday’s rout of Utah. He flirted with a triple-double, posting 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting with 11 assists and eight rebounds.
But after an awkward fall trying to block Talen Horton-Tucker’s layup attempt late in that game, Simmons checked out. He was listed as probable with a knee contusion, then downgraded Wednesday afternoon and eventually scratched.
Simmons had an MRI exam Wednesday morning which revealed no damage. The 27-year-old suffered modest swelling in the knee, but it didn’t require draining. A team source said he took an anti-inflammatory which kicked in, allowing him to put himself through all the necessary paces.
The Nets practice Friday at HSS Training Center before heading to Philadelphia.
It’s easy to see why Simmons’ latest injury was concerning. Beyond the fact the 6-foot-10, 240-pounder’s size is desperately needed with starting power forward Dorian Finney-Smith and backup center Day’Ron Sharpe both out, his own health history has fans skittish.
Simmons missed the entire 2021-22 season due to mental health woes and back issues. He had microdiscectomy surgery at Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital in Los Angeles on May 5, 2022, but spent last season either struggling or sidelined altogether.
The nerve impingement shut him down last season in mid-February. Simmons has logged just 49 appearances for Brooklyn since arriving, seven this season.
But those seven have been his most effective in a Nets uniform with averages of 10.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and seven points. Monday was by far his best, his stellar plus-27 in just 18 minutes leading a rout and teasing what kind of impact he can have on Brooklyn.
If the Nets can keep him healthy.