Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (knee) has been downgraded to questionable for Wednesday's game against the Phoenix Suns with a left knee contusion. Simmons appeared to tweak his knee on an awkward landing following a blocked shot with the Nets up big late in Monday's blowout win over the Utah Jazz, threatening his status on Wednesday. The talented 27-year-old returned to Brooklyn's lineup with a bang following 38 games on the sidelines, teasing a triple-double with 10 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, one steal, and one block in just 18 minutes on Monday. If Simmons heads back to the seats against the Suns, more reserve minutes will be freed up for Royce O'Neale, Dennis Smith Jr., and Lonnie Walker IV.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) has officially been upgraded to active on Monday, which will mark his first game played since Nov. 6. So far this season, he's only appeared in six games, as he's been dealing with an impingement in his back. Back injuries have caused him to miss a full season and some change, so the team will likely take every precaution to try and get him on the floor longer. In his first game back against the Utah Jazz, he'll come off of the bench, and there hasn't been a report on his exact minutes restriction just yet. It's likely that it won't be too many after missing 40 games. If he was already a stash, then he could be started in fantasy leagues, but it's not recommended to pick him up off of waivers just yet in most leagues.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons (back) is available for Monday's game versus the Utah Jazz. Simmons will make his long-awaited return after spending nearly three months on the shelf due to a nerve impingement in his left lower back. The oft-injured former All-Star is averaging 6.5 points on 52.8% field-goal shooting, 10.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 0.8 blocks over six games and should be picked up in shallow fantasy leagues where he may be available. Simmons is likely facing a minutes restriction, but he is eventually going to eat into Spencer Dinwiddie's playmaking opportunities and the playing time of Dorian Finney-Smith as well as Royce O'Neale.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) has been listed as probable for Monday's contest against Utah. Nets head coach Jacques Vaughn said at the weekend that there's a "high likelihood" Simmons will play on Monday, and it indeed looks like he'll make his first appearance since Nov. 6. Simmons had a solid start to the season with a number of near-triple-doubles, but he can't be expected to perform at his best straight away after missing nearly 40 games. However, it's great to see him being available again, and Simmons could make a big impact in fantasy basketball.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) could return to the court as early as Monday. Simmons has been sidelined since early November due to lingering back issues. He's currently practicing with the Long Island Nets. The organization is hopeful that Simmons can return for Monday's matchup against the Utah Jazz. However, Simmons would be on a strict minutes restriction if he does play. That being said, Simmons wouldn't be a recommended fantasy option until he's back to full speed. Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale would be the two players who would likely lose the most value with the return of Simmons.

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said on Tuesday that guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) will not play in the team's next three games. Simmons traveled with the Nets on their recent three-game West Coast road trip, which suggested his return was imminent, but this latest timetable rules him out until at least Jan. 29 at home versus the Utah Jazz. The former Philadelphia 76ers standout hasn't suited up for Brooklyn since Nov. 6 due to a nerve impingement in his left lower back in what's been yet another injury-plagued season, and it remains unclear if he suffered a setback in his progression after participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages recently. Though it hasn't been enough for consistent fantasy relevance, Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale will continue sharing Simmons' minutes for however long he remains on the shelf.

The Brooklyn Nets announced on Wednesday that guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) is progressing in his recovery and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Simmons hasn't played since Nov. 6 due to a nerve impingement in his lower back, and there's still no tangible end in sight in regard to his absence. Simmons' fantasy value is centered around his 6.7 assists and 10.8 rebounds per game to begin with, so the former All-Star is more of a borderline stash in shallow leagues. With Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring) still on the mend with a hamstring injury, head coach Jacque Vaughn should continue allocating three-and-D contributors Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale meaningful playing time for however long Simmons remains on the shelf. Spencer Dinwiddie has acted as Brooklyn's assist maestro, averaging 17.4 points, 8.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 three-pointers in 34.6 minutes over his last 16 games.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) remains out for Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. Simmons won't make his return during Wednesday's "Battle of the Boroughs", having last suited up on Nov. 6 due to a nerve impingement in his lower back. Simmons' fantasy appeal has been relatively limited to his 6.7 assists and 10.8 rebounds per game as it as, so the former Philadelphia 76ers standout playmaker is more of a fringe hold in shallow leagues with no timetable for a return. With Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring) still unavailable with a hamstring injury against the Knicks, head coach Jacque Vaughn should continue handing three-and-D role players Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale significant playing time for however long Simmons continues to sit on the shelf.

According to the New York Post's Brian Lewis, Brooklyn Nets utility man Ben Simmons (back) has advanced to the next stage in his rehab process. The former Philadelphia 76er has battled a back injury, keeping him out of the lineup for over a month. Fortunately, his recent epidural procedure yielded positive results, so he's moving slowly toward on-court activity. Simmons missed most of last season with a back ailment but played well during the 2023-24 campaign before getting sidelined, averaging 10.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 6.5 points in 31.8 minutes per contest. But it will be a while before Simmons is back on the floor, although fantasy managers should keep him stashed if possible.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) reportedly received an epidural injection to help his lower back recovery. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Simmons will be re-evaluated in two weeks after receiving this injection on Sunday. The 27-year-old has been out since November 6 and it looks like he won't be back until almost the end of December. Simmons has battled back issues for the last few years, so the team likely won't be rushing him back. While he's out, Cam Thomas and Spencer Dinwiddie will continue handling point guard duties as Dennis Smith Jr. will get some action off of the bench.

The Brooklyn Nets provided medical updates regarding the injuries to guards Cam Thomas (ankle) and Ben Simmons (back) on Wednesday. Thomas seems further ahead in his recovery from a left ankle sprain, having "made significant improvement" that has cleared him for "increased on-court activity". The 22-year-old walking bucket "is expected to be integrated into team activities next week as he progresses with his return-to-play program". Simmons, however, "is continuing to improve with treatment and has begun light individual court work" and "will have his status updated again in 7-to-10 days." It sounds like Thomas could return to game action in about a week, while Simmons could be on the mend due to a left lower-back nerve impingement through November. Lonnie Walker IV, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Royce O'Neale remain the most prominent streaming options in Brooklyn while both Thomas and Simmons remain on the shelf.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (hip, back) won't travel with the team to face the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, ruling him out for the contest. Simmons joins teammate Cam Thomas as a no-go for Wednesday's tilt in Atlanta, as he recovers from troublesome hip and back injuries. The New York Post's Brian Lewis reported on Nov. 14 that the Nets expected Simmons to "miss some time" to nurse these issues, but we're still in the dark regarding a more concrete timetable. The 27-year-old may not have been rekindling his All-Star form, but he served as Brooklyn's leading rebounder (10.8 per game) and assist man (6.7) during his six games of play before going down. Simmons sets his sights toward Saturday's home clash with the Miami Heat for a possible return. Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale should continue splitting three-and-D minutes on the wings, while Spencer Dinwiddie functions as the squad's main facilitator.

An MRI revealed that Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (hip) is "experiencing nerve irritation on the lower left side of his body, which is going to cause him to miss some time as he rehabs and builds himself back," per agent Bernie Lee. It ominously clouds Simmons' game status for the foreseeable future after it was thought that he was day-to-day with just a hip contusion, and it seems fair to consider him out indefinitely following a more concerning prognosis. It's unclear if any form of surgery is potentially on the table for the oft-injured former All-Star, who was leading Brooklyn in average rebounds (10.8) and assists (6.7) in 31.8 minutes across six games. Fantasy managers should hang onto Simmons as a stash until we know more, but his timetable looks pretty ambiguous. Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale should continue to get plenty of run for the Nets, while Spencer Dinwiddie functions as the primary facilitator.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (hip) will miss another game Tuesday against Orlando. He'll be sitting out a fourth consecutive contest. However, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn noted at the weekend that Simmons is considered day-to-day, so he's not dealing with a long-term issue and should be back soon. Simmons has started his comeback campaign well, bagging a pair of double-doubles in six games and averaging 6.5 points with 10.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists on 52.5 percent shooting. Backup point guard Dennis Smith Jr. has received a larger role in recent games without Simmons, putting up close to nine points and six assists. The Magic have been very impressive defensively this season, but point guards have crushed them regularly, which has resulted in only four teams allowing more points to the position.

The Brooklyn Nets updated guard/forward Ben Simmons' (hip) injury status from "hip soreness" to a "hip contusion" on Sunday. Head coach Jacque Vaughn clarified before Sunday's 102-94 win over the Washington Wizards that Simmons is still considered day-to-day. The 27-year-old former All-Star has missed Brooklyn's last three games with the hip issue, with his next chance to return coming on Tuesday versus the Orlando Magic. The Nets are sure to continue playing things cautiously with Simmons, however, considering his deep injury history. Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale should continue occupying big minutes in the rotation for as long as Simmons, who is averaging team highs in rebounds (10.8) and assists (6.7) in 31.8 minutes over six games, may be unavailable.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (hip) remains out for Sunday's matchup with the Wizards. The former Sixer is battling a hip injury, although there have been conflicting reports regarding the severity of the issue. The Nets got Cameron Johnson (calf) back on Friday night after a lengthy stint on the shelf because of a calf strain. There's also more good news, as Nicolas Claxton (ankle) is anticipated to return from a lingering ankle injury. That said, fantasy managers will need to wait to see if Simmons can suit up on Tuesday in Orlando. But in the meantime, Dorian Finney-Smith, averaging 13.2 points and shooting 46.2% from deep this season, may remain in the starting lineup. There's also room for Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Smith Jr. to stay more involved, albeit both are risky fantasy options in any format.

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons (hip) will miss his second consecutive game due to hip soreness. The Nets will be without Nicolas Claxton (ankle), Cam Thomas (ankle), and now Simmons. For the most part, Simmons has been healthier so far this year than he has been throughout the last few seasons. Since he'll be missing this game though, Cameron Johnson who was tagged as available should see plenty of minutes. Royce O'Neale, Lonnie Walker IV, Dennis Smith Jr., and Dorian Finney-Smith should all see increased playing time as well. All four of them should be available in a wide range of leagues and can be solid streamers until the starters get healthy again.

The Brooklyn Nets say guard/forward Ben Simmons (hip) is out for Wednesday's game versus the Los Angeles Clippers due to left hip soreness. It adds to a slew of injuries for the Nets, who are now down to the likes of Day'Ron Sharpe and forward Dorian Finney-Smith at the five against the Clippers on Wednesday. Sharpe has hardly played in the absence of Nicolas Claxton (ankle), but head coach Jacque Vaughn may have no choice but to give him more run opposing Ivica Zubac as Brooklyn's only traditional big man left standing. Spencer Dinwiddie is likely to be tasked with the bulk of the facilitating duties in the void of Simmons, who hopes to feel better for Friday's In-Season Tourney game against the Boston Celtics.

Brooklyn Nets utility man Ben Simmons (back) isn't listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick had nine boards, eight points, and six assists in 33 minutes on Friday night versus the Chicago Bulls. However, considering he had back surgery in the offseason, he didn't play in Saturday's meeting with Boston, the second of back-to-back contests. With Nicolas Claxton (ankle) out again, Simmons should remain in the middle while continuing to serve as a viable fantasy option in all fantasy formats.

Brooklyn Nets utility man Ben Simmons (back) won't suit up for Saturday's matchup against the Boston Celtics. The 27-year-old has had a quality season, averaging 10.0 rebounds, 7.4 points, 7.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks. However, the Nets will play the second of consecutive outings on Saturday, so Simmons will get the night off to rest. Fantasy managers expected this to happen, although nobody will mind occasional days off if Simmons stays healthy. But in the meantime, Dennis Smith Jr. will likely enter the starting lineup and is worth streaming from those looking to fill a void.