Nets’ Ben Simmons, Cam Johnson ruled out for Clippers game
The Brooklyn Nets will be without two top offensive players on Wednesday against Los Angeles Clippers. Cam Johnson and Ben Simmons are ruled out for the away game. Johnson is nursing a sprained right ankle, while Simmons will rest as part of a load management plan for the second night of back-to-back games.
Johnson is back after a five-game absence and sparked Brooklyn’s offense during Tuesday’s 132-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The veteran wing scored a team-high 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting.
The Nets’ offense was the latest in a five-game losing streak with Johnson, D’Angelo Russell and Cam Thomas on the sidelines. With Johnson and Russell in the Portland lineup, Brooklyn shot 54.4 percent from the field and scored 29 rushing points, both season highs. Their 132 points and 36 assists were their best in the 2024-25 regular season.
Simmons has not been cleared for back-to-back games as the Nets aim to manage his workload after two injury-riddled seasons. The three-time All-Star had five points, nine rebounds and 11 assists for Portland. He averaged 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 8.3 assists over his last 10 appearances after replacing Dennis Schroeder as Brooklyn’s starting point guard.
Nic Clacton‘s status in question for the road matchup with the Clippers
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Nick Claxton is questionable against the Clippers after missed Tuesday’s win with right hamstring strain. It was his first game missed since a Nov. 27 loss to the Phoenix Suns. The six-year center had his most productive stretch of the season in January, averaging 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.
If Claxton is ruled out along with Simmons, Day’Ron Sharpe should get the starting snap at center. Sharp had eight points and seven rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting in 18 minutes off the Portland bench.
D’Angelo Russell is not on the Nets’ injury report against the Clippers. Veteran point guard returned from a four-game absence during Tuesday’s win. He had 13 points, three rebounds, nine assists and four steals on 3-of-11 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench. With Simmons sidelined, Russell should be in line to start at point guard on Wednesday.
2025-01-15 21:05:00
