Rivers expecting Simmons to be back on court soon

Since Ben Simmons required season-ending surgery as recently as August, his repaired left knee is not the only thing beginning to swell around the 76ers. Concerns that the issue could linger are growing, too. Relax, advises Doc Rivers. “I don’t think it has anything to do with last year, or at least I don’t know that,” the coach said Monday before a game in Atlanta. “Put it that way. But it bothered him. He was talking about it after the Brooklyn game.”

The discomfort caused Simmons to miss his second consecutive game Monday, a particular inconvenience to the Sixers, who continue to deal with coronavirus protocol issues. However, Rivers suggested, the point guard may be available as soon as Tuesday, when Miami visits the Wells Fargo Center.

“This early in the season,” Rivers said, “we are just trying to go with more ‘safe’ than ‘sorry’ measures right now.”

Though Rivers used the term “stiffness” and not “swelling” to describe Simmons’ injury before a loss Saturday to Denver, he assures that it was simply a choice of words, and that it should not be implied that the situation is worsening. He said he did not believe Simmons’ discomfort would become a long-term issue.

“We thought it would be one game,” Rivers said. “It’s already at two. We’re hoping he can play (Tuesday) night. But I can’t guarantee any of that.”

•••

For neglecting to include Simmons in the official injury report before declaring him unavailable shortly before the Nuggets game, the Sixers were fined $25,000 by the NBA.

Simmons did not make the trip to Atlanta.

•••

Starting guard Seth Curry missed his second consecutive game after testing positive for COVID-19, as per league regulations.

Rivers is Curry’s fatherin-law.

“He’s doing great,” Rivers said. “I talked to him this afternoon and he said, ‘Coach, I feel great.’ He said he had one bad day. I guess that’s a really good report.”

Since they had been in close contact with Curry, health protocols left Rivers without Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Vincent Poirier Monday

Terrance Ferguson missed the Denver game for personal reasons, but was unavailable Monday while observing an obligatory quarantine period.

“We get the report from a lot of our guys, that they have had just one bad day,” Rivers said. “For a couple of guys, it’s lingered.”

Rivers is hopeful that Curry can return for a game

Saturday in Memphis.

“He just said, ‘I am holed up in the basement of my house,’” he said. “He said he was playing video games and watching basketball and football. So all is good there.”

•••

Furkan Korkmaz (left abductor strain) was unavailable Monday. Mike Scott was cleared to play after recovering from a knee contusion. Joel Embiid, who did not play Saturday while dealing with back soreness, was also cleared to play.

That lef t Rivers with Scott, Embiid, Danny Green, Tyrese Maxey, Dwight Howard, Dakota Mathias, Isaiah Joe, Tony Bradley and Paul Reed available to face the Hawks.

As a back-door value,

it did give some young players some bonus experience.

“We had a lot of guys who were out there for a lot of minutes,” said Joe, who clocked 45 minutes against Denver, providing 13 points. “So we’re all comfortable, and we are all prepared.”

Joe, for one, does not believe players are being put at any physical disadvantage, either from COVID protocols or the unusually heavy playing time.

“The league has done a very good job of adjusting to the situation,” the rookie said after a morning practice. “They are trying their best for the players.

“I trust the system. And I trust that other teams are doing it the right way, as well.”