After a somewhat underwhelming performance in the Nets‘ preseason opener last Tuesday in San Diego, Ben Simmons was dialed in from the start in Monday’s 131-92 defeat of the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center.
Simmons, who started at center in place of an injured Nic Claxton for the second straight game, opened the night with not one, not two, but three aggressive drives to the rim, which netted him four early points. He accounted for the Nets’ first three shot attempts of the game. His aggressive mindset set the tone for what was one of his more productive games in a Brooklyn uniform in quite some time — preseason or otherwise.
In his second game back from a lower back injury that forced him to miss 67 games last season, Simmons finished with 11 points (5-of-7), five rebounds and two assists in just 13 minutes against the Wizards. He found early chemistry with Dennis Schröder in the two-man game, as the two guards hooked up a few times for easy layups and tip dunks. He put his body on the line, too, drawing a charge on Washington’s Corey Kispert with 7:51 left in the first quarter.
Simmons, who will make a guaranteed $40.3 million this season, looked healthy and appears to be getting stronger with each appearance. And all of his production came in the first half, as forward Ziaire Williams started the second half in his place. Simmons’ minutes have been limited so far this preseason, but his gradual uptick in production suggests he is trending in the right direction.
Simmons and Schröder, who started in tandem for the second straight game, led the Nets on a 14-0 run in the second quarter, which helped create a 55-46 advantage for the team at halftime. Cam Thomas did what he usually does, pouring in an efficient 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 24 minutes of action. But Tuesday night, Simmons — and what might be the infant stages of his resurgence — was the story of the night.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez promised that his starters would play extended minutes against the Wizards. The Nets remained cautious with Simmons’ minutes, but Schröder, Thomas, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson played deep into the third quarter, logging 25, 24, 23 and 25 minutes, respectively. Four of five starters finished in double figures.
Williams played 24 minutes off the bench, the highest total among Brooklyn’s reserves. He played with the same defensive intensity that made him a standout performer in last week’s preseason loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, but it was not his best offensive night, as we went 2-of-6 from the field and 0-of-4 from 3-point range. However, Williams did collect seven rebounds and a game-high three steals.
Second-year forwards Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson both finished in double figures and combined for 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting. And not to be forgotten was veteran guard Shake Milton, who was nearly perfect offensively. He went 6-of-7 from the field and scored 16 points in just 18 minutes.
Brooklyn once again showcased why it could be a dangerous team in the open court this season, as it outscored the Wizards 26-7 in transition. Defensively, it held Washington to 40% shooting from the field, 17.9% shooting from deep and forced 19 turnovers, which resulted in 35 points.
The Nets, who led by as many as 43 points in Fernandez’s Barclays Center debut, will continue their preseason slate on Wednesday against the 76ers in Philadelphia.
