Nets’ Simmons upgraded for game against Jazz

NEW YORK — Ben Simmons will return to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday after missing nearly three months with a pinched nerve in his back.

Simmons has played in just six games this season, not since Nov. 6 and has missed the past 38 games. He practiced with the Nets’ NBA G League affiliate on Saturday, and coach Jacques Vaughn said afterward that it was “very likely” the No. 7 would be absent. .The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft will face the Utah Jazz on Monday.

The Nets listed Simmons as possible on Sunday’s injury report, then upgraded him to available after participating in a morning shootaround on Monday.

Simmons has been dealing with a back injury since the Nets acquired him from Philadelphia nearly two years ago. The Nets initially thought the injury he suffered in November was to his left hip, but it was later determined to be caused by a knock to his lower back.