Nets expected to get Ben Simmons, Dorian Finney-Smith back for Knicks battle
The Nets appear on track to get Dorian Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons back for their first meeting of the season with the Knicks, with Finney-Smith (left ankle sprain) listed as probable and Simmons (left calf tightness) removed from the injury report altogether ahead of Friday’s game, but center Nic Claxton was added and listed as questionable with lower back tightness.Claxton, whose preseason hamstring injury forced him to open the regular season on a minutes restriction before returning to the Nets’ starting lineup the past five games, logged 24 minutes during their 139-114 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday.The defensive anchor, who inked a four-year deal this offseason to return to Brooklyn and remain a centerpiece of their rebuild and beyond, will likely be tasked with containing center Karl-Anthony Towns — who dropped 46 points and carried the Knicks as they fell to the Bulls on Wednesday — if he can play.
If not, the Nets will be forced to adjust while figuring out how to defend a lineup that also includes Jalen Brunson and former Brooklyn star Mikal Bridges.Even if Claxton misses his second game of the season, the Nets will, at the least, get Simmons back.The Post’s Brian Lewis reported Thursday that Simmons’ MRI exam came back clean despite the calf issue prompting his first injury-related absence of the season — with his other three missed games related to rest during back-to-backs.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez bumped Simmons to the bench during his most recent two games, Nov.8 and 11, and he responded with 14 points, 20 assists, 11 rebounds and three steals across those games.Finney-Smith has missed the past two games due to the ankle sprain, with Fernandez wanting to operate with caution.
He ended up not being ready by Wednesday, and that allowed for the emergence of former top-10 pick Ziaire Williams, who made his second consecutive start and poured in 23 points.That could change two days later.And the Nets will need Finney-Smith’s presen...