Nets’ Simmons has back surgery
NEW YORK — Ben Simmons has had back surgery for the second time in three years, with he and the Brooklyn Nets hoping this procedure will provide the relief he needs to complete a full season.
The Nets said Simmons had a microscopic partial discectomy on Thursday to alleviate the pinched nerve in his lower back. The surgery was performed at Uhealth Jackson Memorial Medical Center by Dr. Timur Urakov, in consultation with Dr. Barth Green.
The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA draft is expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp next season.
He has played in just 57 games since the Nets acquired him from Philadelphia during the 2021-22 season.
Simmons hurt his back as he tried to regain his conditioning after the trade, having not played for the 76ers to start that season because of mental health concerns.
He had a microdiscectomy, a procedure to remove a small fragment of a herniated disc, after the season ended.
Simmons then played in just 42 games in 202223 before he was shut down in March because of a nerve impingement in his lower back.
That injury returned just six games into this season and limited Simmons to only 15 games, including a stretch of 38 consecutive missed games at one point.
The Nets announced last week the three-time All-star wouldn’t play again this season and instead would seek treatment options.
Simmons finished with averages of 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
Hamstring issue sidelines Doncic
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic didn’t play in Oklahoma City a night after leaving a win over Golden State with hamstring soreness.
Doncic’s seven-game streak of triple-doubles ended on Wednesday night. The NBA scoring leader exited midway through the fourth quarter with left hamstring soreness, just 22 seconds after returning to the game.
The absence of Doncic at the Thunder on Thursday night ended a 17-game run with co-star Kyrie Irving, by far the longest since the Mavs acquired Irving in a blockbuster trade with Brooklyn in February 2023.
The time together for a pair of players with 13 combined All-star appearances has been limited by a variety of injuries. Dallas has played 27 games this season without one or both of them.
Wednesday’s highlights
Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points and Aaron Gordon added 16 as the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets took sole possession of first place in the Western Conference standings with a 100-88 win over the host Miami Heat in a finals rematch. … Luka Doncic scored 21 points while his triple-double streak ended at seven games as the Dallas Mavericks slogged to a 109-99 victory over the visiting Golden State Warriors. … Domantas Sabonis had 17 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists as the host Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-107. … Donovan Mitchell scored 14 points in his return from a seven-game absence as the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers combined for 20 3-pointers in a 116-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. … Demar Derozan scored 46 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime, to help the Chicago Bulls outlast the host Indiana Pacers 132129.