Simmons to remain with bench role vs. Clippers

One Nets star, Kyrie Irving, is currently out of the picture.

Another Nets star, Ben Simmons, will remain out of the starting lineup.

The Nets will continue to start Nic Claxton at center and Edmond Sumner at point guard — complementing Kevin Durant, Royce O’Neale and Joe Harris — when they play at the Clippers on Saturday afternoon, head coach Jacque

Vaughn said.

In 51 combined minutes this season, those five players have been a team-best plus-36. When Claxton and Simmons are on the floor at the same time, the Nets have been outscored by 32 points, as opposing teams have been able to exploit a pair of players who are not outside threats.

Simmons started the Nets’ first six games this season (five of which were losses) and returned Monday from a knee injury. In the two games since, both of which included Vaughn running the team, Simmons came off the bench and was alternated with Claxton.

“Especially with the second group, I think he’s done a good job, and he finished the game with the first group,” Vaughn said Friday at practice of Simmons, who shot 3-for-6 for six points, with nine rebounds and four assists, Wednesday

in a win over the Knicks. “He gives you the flexibility to be able to play fast, which you want to do, have space on the floor, still be big out there, rebound the basketball.

“We’re still learning each other, and the groups are still learning each other.”

➤ T.J. Warren, who has yet to debut with the Nets and has not played since undergoing foot surgery in January 2021, has started contact work with coaches, the team said. The 29-year-old forward will build up to playing at practice with teammates over the next week or two.

“He’s eager to play, so [getting] everybody back healthy is the main thing,” O’Neale said of Warren, who is coming off surgery for consecutive stress fractures in his left foot.

➤ The Nets will dodge the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, who was ruled out for the game Saturday with a knee injury.