Ben Simmons’ strong all-around performance lifted the Brooklyn Nets to a dominant 147-114 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
Simmons made his first appearance since Nov. 6 due to a lower back nerve impingement, immediately giving head coach Jacque Vaughn productive minutes off the bench. In the first half alone, the 27-year-old grabbed six rebounds and dished out seven assists.
By the end of the night, Simmons flirted with a triple-double by recording 10 points, eight rebounds, and a season-high 11 assists without committing a turnover. He picked up a block and a steal as well, connecting on all five of his field goal attempts in just 18 minutes of action.
NBA fans were pleasantly surprised by the former 2016 No. 1 overall pick:
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Ben Simmons is back for the first time since Nov. 6 🙌 pic.twitter.com/kZyRd9Cb9K
Overtime @overtime
BEN SIMMONS COOKIES 🍪 (via @BrooklynNets)
pic.twitter.com/JqMXuP9dNo
Legion Hoops @LegionHoops
Ben Simmons in his return:
10 points
11 assists
8 rebounds
0 TURNOVERS
5/5 FG
In only 18 minutes 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/2zs3f2nQWU
Billy Reinhardt @BillyReinhardt
Ben Simmons with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and a +26 in 18 minutes in his first game in three months:
Nets with arguably their best performance of the season. pic.twitter.com/roLvw330xA
Brooklyn Netcast @BrooklynNetcast
Ben Simmons in his 1st game back:
18 Minutes
10 Points
11 Assists
8 Rebounds
1 Steal
100 FG%
WHAT A RETURN 🥽 pic.twitter.com/0PEdfIGqhL
Overtime @overtime
BEN SIMMONS’ FIRST GAME BACK 🔥
10 PTS
5/5 FG
8 REB
11 AST
Great to see him back on the court. pic.twitter.com/1Abs8Aj1t1
Steve Jones Jr. @stevejones20
Ben Simmons with 10 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds and a +26 in 18 minutes is…interesting.
Erik Slater @erikslater_
Ben Simmons in his return:
10 points
8 rebounds
11 assists
0 turnovers
5/5 FG
+27
Quite the showing after a three-month layoff.
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
After a couple more buckets at the rim, Ben Simmons is up to 10 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, a steal and no turnovers in 16 minutes. Very encouraging return for him tonight after nearly three months out.
StatMuse @statmuse
Players with a 10/5/10 game with 0 TOV and 100 FG%:
Jimmy Butler (2017)
Nikola Jokic (2018)
Jordan McLaughlin (2022)
And now, Ben Simmons. pic.twitter.com/v1zb7RH3s6
Blake Murphy @BlakeMurphyODC
Ben Simmons made the Nets watchable again.
Although the Nets moved to just 19-27 after the win, Simmons returning to the court and looking like his former self would provide a huge boost to the rest of the lineup. His playmaking is sorely needed on a Brooklyn team that has struggled with ball movement at certain points during the regular season.
If the former three-time All-Star begins to look like his old self as his role increases over time, the Nets will also likely be fielding several trade calls from interested teams ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline.
“Just a blessing to be back on the floor and play with my guys, and glad we could get a win,” Simmons said after the game.
YES Network @YESNetwork
Finishing just two rebounds short of a triple-double in his first game back, Ben Simmons tells @Meghan_Triplett how he was able to play comfortably in his return.#NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/nH7o4RCItN
His next opportunity to build upon his promising return will come against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
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