Philadelphia, routed by Milwaukee on Saturday night and still starting on the road if the playoffs began today, may have another problem coming.
All-Star Ben Simmons skipped Thursday night’s game against Brooklyn with a sore lower back. He gave it a go Saturday in a nationally televised game against Milwaukee, but in the first quarter went back to the locker room not to return.
Ben Simmons will not return. He irritated his lower back. #Sixers
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) February 23, 2020
After the game, the news got more ominous.
Philadelphia's Ben Simmons will undergo an MRI on his lower back on Sunday, league source tells ESPN. He was definitely in some pain tonight after game vs. Bucks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 23, 2020
Wojnarowski also reported, “There is some level of concern surrounding the possible nature of the injury.” That sounds ominous.
Simmons is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.9 rebounds a game for the Sixers this season as the starting point guard. He’s also been playing All-Defensive Team level defense. If he misses extended time, it will be rough on Philadelphia.
When there is word on the MRI results, we will have it here at NBC.