Nets' Ben Simmons' MRI on Knee Injury Clean After Missing 3rd Straight Game

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has missed the last three games because of lingering knee soreness.

According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Simmons underwent an MRI Friday on the injury, with the results coming back clean.

The 26-year-old hasn't played since being forced to exit the loss to the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 26 in the third quarter with a knee issue. He had already missed 11 games earlier in the season due to injury.

The 2022-23 campaign has been one to forget for Simmons, as he's failed to return to the form that saw him earn three All-Star selections. He is averaging just 7.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists and has gone from a difference-maker on both ends of the floor to a role player.

The Nets have been working through the absence of Kevin Durant, who has been out since Jan. 8 with a sprained MCL. Simmons had failed to step up his production even with the 13-time All-Star off the floor, scoring over 10 points just twice in January.

At 31-20, Brooklyn is still holding on to the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference, but the team will need to be at full strength if it hopes to avoid duplicating last season's early exit from the playoffs.

While Simmons is out, there will be more minutes available for players like Yuta Watanabe and Markieff Morris.