Ben Simmons

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, tries to get past Brooklyn Nets' Ben Simmons during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan.

I’m seeing flashes, I think we’re all seeing flashes, we just want him to keep it up, keep up the good work.” We just want to continue to hammer home that our best team effort is when we’re all playing well and staying aggressive and just taking shots that the defense is giving us. “That’s where we’re going to get him to where each possession he has to be dealt with on both ends of the floor,” the Nets head coach said. “Where you feel him on both ends of the floor, and he imposes his will and has an impact on every single possession, which he has the ability to do. That was when he refound the ability the Nets are counting on to help them weather the stretch without Durant and ultimately help fulfill their championship aspirations. Wednesday night’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers was just the latest example of that issue, which has become magnified with the absence of Kevin Durant.

Simmons, however, spent the final eight minutes and 57 seconds of the game glued to Brooklyn's bench, as coach Jacque Vaughn opted to go in a different ...

It can already be a tough task to play Simmons in the guts of the game due to his aversion to shooting, which makes it easier for opposing defenses to apply pressure elsewhere. Sure, Simmons is still one of the league's more versatile defenders, but if he can't be consistently relied on offensively, there's no guarantee that he's going to be on the court in crunch time. And just because you play the first half, it doesn't mean you're going to play the second half. The matchup was highly anticipated and the game lived up to the hype as the Sixers pulled out a 137-133 victory over the [Nets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BKN/brooklyn-nets/) in front of a raucous crowd at the Wells Fargo Center. There were glimpses of the bellicose baller that he once was, but overall he was largely a passive non-factor, especially on the offensive end. Then, it was like someone reminded him at halftime that he's 6'10" and super athletic because he looked like a different player in the third quarter.

Jan 30, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) talks to fans before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.

“Tuck your shirt in, Ben!” the fan loudly shouted. He often live-streams himself playing the game online and has even at times Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets played Wednesday night against the 76ers in a nationally-televised game.

The former Boston Celtics center has been critical of Simmons' limited production this season - he is averaging 7.6 points a game - and feels the Nets ...

And then down the stretch, with us being down, I just wanted to space the floor and get more shooting out there. 'We really want to get to a point where your teammate is dependent on you. 'I think overall it's the message I kind of talked about before the game. You couldn't put him on the floor,' Perkins fumed. 'With the development of (Nic) Claxton and the way he's been balling out, you can't play those two together... seriously, Seth Curry, he's balling out, Claxton, he's doing what he do.

Brooklyn Nets star guard Ben Simmons was benched in the fourth quarter again; this time against the Philadelphia 76ers.

If you think about competing and playing hard, you do those things. [you will be aggressive](https://twitter.com/NYPost_Lewis/status/1618452757794689024). Simmons has been a shell of his All-Star self, still playing at a high level as an on-ball defender and facilitator, but far less aggressive as a scorer than in past seasons.

PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets made a big trade at the 2022 deadline back in February of the 2021-22 season.

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins roasted Ben Simmons' first-half performance in Brooklyn's loss to the 76ers on Wednesday.

His current free-throw percentage of 44.6% is the lowest in his career by a wide margin. He’s most known for his time with the Boston Celtics, as he was with the squad for eight seasons and won a championship with them back in 2008. Meanwhile, Kendrick Perkins, now 38, spent 14 years in the big leagues with four different teams. Simmons is really struggling to score the ball from the free-throw line thus far, even by his standards. [ struggled to win games](https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-brooklyn-losing-streak-draws-similarities-struggles-leading-up-kevin-durant-trade-request) without Kevin Durant, who got bit by the injury bug [earlier in the month](https://clutchpoints.com/3-nets-players-who-must-step-up-in-wake-of-kevin-durant-injury). Ben Simmons, 26, is in his fifth year in the NBA and first as a member of the Nets after spending four in Philadelphia with the Sixers.

In one of the most anticipated games of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association games of the 2022-23 regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the ...

[Simmons changed his mind and reported to Philadelphia after all](https://thesportingbase.com/latest_news/ben-simmons-reports-to-philadelphia-after-all/), but shortly afterwards was [suspended by the 76ers for declining to participate in a team drill during practice](https://thesportingbase.com/nba/76ers-suspend-ben-simmons/). The Nets are fourth in the East, with a record of 28 wins and 19 losses. The tension between Simmons of Melbourne, Australia, and Embiid of Yaounde, Cameroon, was part of the reason

A look at the highlights from Sixers Twitter as Philadelphia took down Ben Simmons and the Nets.

The two-time MVP center Nikola Jokic comes to South Philly for the first and only time this year on Saturday, which will be a battle of the Western Conference’s top dogs against the East’s second-place team. The game offered fans in attendance a playoff feel on Wednesday. [Philadelphia 76ers](http://si.com/nba/76ers) faced the Brooklyn Nets for the second time this season on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, tries to get past Brooklyn Nets' Ben Simmons during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan.

There was also a moment when Embiid dunked in the vicinity of Simmons and had quite a few words for him. Simmons was scoreless in the first half but ended the game with 12 points. For the Sixers, De’Anthony Melton had one of his best games as a Sixer scoring 17 points, four rebounds, and three blocks, all while shooting 50% from three. Maxey scored 16 points in the first half and helped the Sixers build a 10-point halftime lead. There were a few times in the first quarter when Simmons switched on to Embiid, and those two went at it. The Brooklyn Nets came in tonight’s matchup after a west coast road trip of their own with a recent victory against the Golden State Warriors.

Ben Simmons was benched for the final nine minutes of the Nets' 137-133 loss to the Philly yesterday as it seems Jacques Vaughn is fed up with his guard's ...

You become what you think about.” “I’mma change his name to Ben Perkins, he had the same stat lines as me. [told](https://twitter.com/NYPost_Lewis/status/1618452757794689024) the media that “if you’re thinking about being aggressive, you will be aggressive.

The crowd got up for Joel Embiid vs. Ben Simmons. The big man himself claims it was just another matchup.

“As far as trying to score the ball, tonight, that was the same thing,” Embiid continued. Embiid explained that his mentality whenever he gets the ball on offense is simple: Dominate the player in front of him by scoring or making the proper read and passing out of a double-team if a clean shot isn’t there. “I was not [trying to go at him],” Embiid said after the game.

In one of the most anticipated games of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association games of the 2022-23 regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the ...

[Simmons changed his mind and reported to Philadelphia after all](https://thesportingbase.com/latest_news/ben-simmons-reports-to-philadelphia-after-all/), but shortly afterwards was [suspended by the 76ers for declining to participate in a team drill during practice](https://thesportingbase.com/nba/76ers-suspend-ben-simmons/). The Nets are fourth in the East, with a record of 28 wins and 19 losses. The tension between Simmons of Melbourne, Australia, and Embiid of Yaounde, Cameroon, was part of the reason

When Durant and Irving, surrounded by Claxton and the Nets' perimeter shooting, were together, Simmons was free to serve as the team's Draymond Green: a ...

A year ago, Simmons was available on the trade market because he had refused to report to the 76ers, citing mental health concerns following a disastrous playoff loss. Simmons entered play shooting 44.6 percent from the line, while Claxton was knocking free throws down at a 46.4 percent clip, already attacked once by the Warriors’ Hack-A-Clax strategy. Simmons is again playing, but not playing like the uniquely gifted, creative creator he had established himself to be. They saw it Wednesday, when Simmons came out in the second half looking to attack. Simmons appeared to embrace the complementary role and thrived while his team did, too. Vaughn said it is his job to figure out how best to motivate Simmons, and he does not believe this benching trend will last.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons will not return Thursday in the team's game against the Detroit Pistons.

The Nets will have to find a way without him over the final 15 minutes of action. [Ben Simmons (knee) will not return for Nets on Thursday](/nba/player-news/223135/ben-simmons-knee-will-not-return-for-nets-on-thursday)January 26th, 2023 [Nets' Royce O'Neale (hip) available on Thursday](/nba/player-news/223101/nets-royce-o-neale-hip-available-on-thursday)January 26th, 2023 [Seth Curry (knee) ruled out Thursday for Nets versus Pistons](/nba/player-news/223107/seth-curry-knee-ruled-out-thursday-for-nets-versus-pistons)January 26th, 2023 [Royce O'Neale (hip) probable Thursday for Nets](/nba/player-news/223083/royce-o-neale-hip-probable-thursday-for-nets)January 26th, 2023 [Seth Curry (knee) questionable Thursday for Nets](/nba/player-news/223082/seth-curry-knee-questionable-thursday-for-nets)January 26th, 2023 [Kevin Durant (knee) on track, out for Nets at least 2 more weeks](/nba/player-news/222939/kevin-durant-knee-on-track-out-for-nets-at-least-2-more-weeks)January 24th, 2023 As a result, he has been ruled out for the rest of the night.

Nets urged to trade scoreless Simmons as Aussie cops another injury blow.

It is the second time this season that Simmons has left the second game of a back-to-back due to his left leg issue. The Australian is contracted through 2024-25, with the 6ft10 player set to earn $40 million USD in that final season. The Australian was also seen warming up in a brace for his back, likely indicating he is still struggling with another area he has previously battled. And then down the stretch, with us being down, I just wanted to space the floor and get more shooting out there. I’mma change his name to Ben Perkins, he had the same stat lines as me. I might consider trading him, for the simple fact that I was watching the game, late in the fourth quarter last night when it got close. “We really want to get to a point where your teammate is dependent on you. Simmons has had a series of issues with his left knee over the years. Simmons ended with seven assists, one rebound, one steal, and three turnovers by the time he left the field – and zero points. Simmons was brought in to help superstar duo Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant bring a title back to Brooklyn. Nic Claxton had 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Edmond Sumner excelled off the bench with 24 points and 5 rebounds. This time, it was on 0/3 shooting, alongside five assists, a rebound, a steal, and two turnovers.

Ben Simmons didn't have much to say after his battle against Joel Embiid.

So, you know, I had a bad night, but I’m happy we got the win.” But Embiid didn’t have his best night on the offensive end and admittedly struggled at times. [James Harden](https://www.si.com/search?query=James+Harden), Embiid had the opportunity to go against his former teammate. “If you look at the way I play, it doesn’t matter,” said Embiid. Within the first couple of minutes of the game, the South Philly crowd roared as the two battled it out. Simmons was never a man of many words during his time in Philadelphia.

Simmons has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's matchup with the Pistons due to left knee soreness, Alec Sturm of NetsDaily.com reports.

Warren should see larger roles for the rest of the contest. It's unclear exactly when Simmons sustained the injury, but he will exit Thursday's tilt scoreless (0-3 FG) with seven assists in 20 minutes of action. [Simmons](/fantasy/basketball/players/2202822/ben-simmons/) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's matchup with the Pistons due to left knee soreness, Alec Sturm of NetsDaily.com reports.

Ben Simmons was ruled out during the third quarter of the Nets' matchup with the Detroit Pistons Thursday due to left knee soreness.

They could be without Simmons in the coming days as they attempt to weather the absence of their top player. The Nets have dropped to fourth place in the Eastern Conference while posting a 2-5 record since Durant went down on Jan. Simmons previously missed four games earlier this season due to soreness and swelling in the same knee.