Simmons pays instant dividends in return

Previously injured playmaker paces Nets to rout of Jazz

January 30, 2024 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Ben Simmons enjoyed his return to the hardwood in Downtown Brooklyn Monday, helping the Nets rout the visiting Jazz. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

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Ben Simmons returned from a back injury that had him on the shelf since early November on Monday night, resulting in the Brooklyn Nets’ first back-to-back wins in over a month.

Simmons amassed a near triple-double with 10 points, eight rebounds and a game-high 11 assists in only 18 minutes off the bench as the Nets opened and closed with a flourish en route to a 147-114 victory over the Utah Jazz in front of 16,054 fans at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

Out since Nov. 6 with a nerve impingement in his back, Simmons came back in impressive fashion, knocking down all five of his field-goal attempts, grabbing five offensive boards, picking up a steal and blocking a shot.

He sparked a 43-28 outburst by Brooklyn in the opening quarter by handing out six helpers in just under five minutes after entering the contest.

The 6-foot-10 point guard finished with a plus-27 rating following the Nets’ 43-27 fourth-quarter outburst, helping his team complete consecutive wins for the first time since Dec. 23-26, when it swept a home-and-home from league-worst Detroit.

Limited to only 42 games since arriving in Brooklyn as part of the deadline deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia in February 2022, Simmons has been plagued by knee and back issues as a Net after missing the 2021-22 campaign with mental-health concerns.

“We got the win, so yes,” Simmons pointed out when asked if his much-anticipated return was a successful one. “That’s the main objective for me, and that’s really all I care about.”

So do the Nets (19-27), who had lost 12 of 14 contests before their modest winning streak, which they can extend to three games Wednesday here vs. former teammate Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.

Having Simmons, even in a reserve capacity, did wonders for Brooklyn’s offensive flow.

“Just pushing the pace,” Simmons said. “I don’t think many teams are ready for a team that’s pushing the ball every single time down the floor.”

Nets point guard Ben Simmons makes one of his five baskets during Brooklyn’s second straight victory Monday night at Barclays Center. AP Photo by Mary Altaffer

The Nets had 41 assists against Utah while nailing 21 of their 45 shots from 3-point range. They also outscored the Jazz (24-24), 28-16, off the fast break.

“Other people played so well tonight because of the impact of Ben Simmons. It’s that simple,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said of his enigmatic point man.

“The looks that we got tonight, the amount of 3s that we got tonight, the fast break points that we got tonight, the uncontested looks that we got tonight, the pace that we played with … we did it on both ends of the floor. And Ben deserves an extreme amount of credit for the way he played tonight.”

Mikal Bridges scored 33 points, Cam Thomas added 25, Lonnie Walker IV finished with 19 off the bench and Cam Johnson had 17 for Brooklyn, which enjoyed the highest-scoring regulation output in franchise history.

“I just think (Simmons’) ability to pass is something that really elevates this team consistently,” Walker IV said.

Keyonte George poured in 21 points off the bench, but starting power forward Lauri Markkanen was held to 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting for Utah, which had its two-game winning streak snapped.

Markkanen had 20 points and 10 rebounds when the Jazz beat the Nets, 125-108, in Utah on Dec. 18.

“We just got outworked tonight. Plain and simple.” Jazz coach Will Hardy told the Associated Press.

Dennis Smith Jr. put up 12 points, Nic Claxton had 11 points and 10 boards and Royce O’Neale added 11 points for Brooklyn, which finally remembers what its like to have a healthy Ben Simmons leading the charge after missing the lanky Australian for the previous 38 games.

“I think certain guys know what it’s like to play with me and where their shots are going to come from, so for us it’s easy,” Simmons said.

The former three-time All-Star as a member of the 76ers might also be upping his own stock as this year’s trade deadline approaches.

But for now, the Nets have to be happy to have sneaked a peek at the Ben Simmons they were hoping they’d acquired nearly two years ago.

“So it took a lot of effort and, and patience and time to get back to where I’m at now,” Simmons revealed. “Every single day, every morning, every day, I’m working to get back on the floor.

“That’s not online. You don’t see that. So for me and everyone that has seen that and and seen my discipline over the last two months, it’s great to see it pay off.”

Kevin Durant scored 27 points against Mikal Bridges and his former Nets teammates in Phoenix on Dec. 13. He’ll be back in Brooklyn Wednesday. AP Photo by Matt York

NOTHING BUT NET: The Nets beat the Suns in Phoenix on Dec. 13 in the first meeting between the teams since Brooklyn dealt away its superstar duo of Durant and Kyrie Irving last February. This will be Durant’s first visit to our borough since he was traded to Phoenix, and a video tribute is expected Wednesday. … After hosting the Suns, the Nets will travel to Philadelphia on Saturday before opening a second consecutive five-game homestand here on Monday vs. Golden State. … Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith missed Monday’s game with an injured left ankle and will also sit out against Phoenix.