It looks like Ben Simmons is targeting the middle to end of the first-round series for his Brooklyn Nets debut, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
"I am told that Ben Simmons is targeting games four, five, or six for making his Brooklyn Nets debut," Windhorst said on Thursday. "I've got to say, I was taken aback by being told this information and my response was, 'Is he even playing five on five yet?' And the answer to that is no, but the hope is by the end of the week he can ramp up to that. That is still some time, we're still talking about over seven days. It's a big ask, but I have to say really for seven, eight weeks now I have heard nothing but pessimism on the Ben Simmons front and that has switched dramatically in the last few days.
"So, I mean, right now I would say — I have to report that it is possible we will see Ben Simmons in this series against the Celtics."
Windhorst almost seems reluctant to report this information, seemingly unwilling to believe Simmons returns to action that soon, as he has not played in an NBA game since the Sixers' were eliminated in the 2021 Eastern Conference semi-finals by the Atlanta Hawks on June 20th, 2021.
Simmons was traded to the Nets in a package for James Harden after holding out the entire 2021-22 NBA seasons while with Philadelphia. On March 21st, Nets head coach Steve Nash announced Simmons was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his back.
The Nets begins their first-round series against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, April 17th at 3:30pm. Game four is Monday, April 25th in Brooklyn, game five is Wednesday, April 27th in Boston, and game six is scheduled for Friday, April 29th in Brooklyn.
The Nets are small underdogs (+110) in their series against the Celtics, per www.BetOnline.ag.