Ben Simmons had another encouraging outing on Thursday night in the Nets’ second preseason game.
He ran the point again in a 135-103 win over Maccabi Ra’anana at Barclays Center and looked smooth, with an early steal and slam and handed out a team-high nine assists.
Simmons is looking to prove he’s healthy after being shut down for the second half of last season with a sore left knee and a nerve injury in his back.
“I feel good and each day I’m getting better,’’ Simmons said after scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds in 21:55. “I’m trying to get some rhythm with this team, just play the game and read everything that’s going on.”
He’s impressed his coach.
“As he continues to stack days and games together, then his instinctive nature comes out,’’ coach Jacque Vaughn said.
Thursday, recorded a team-high nine assists.
Dennis Smith Jr. left Thursday’s game with a sprained left ankle and didn’t return.
Vaughn said X-rays were negative, but he will get further testing on Friday.
Smith dealt with issues with that ankle last season during an otherwise solid bounce-back season with Charlotte before the 27-year-old signed with the Nets in the offseason.
Lonnie Walker IV left with a wrist contusion and is day-to-day.
Nic Claxton sat out Thursday’s game with what Vaughn called a “sore glute.”
Vaughn added the team doesn’t believe the injury will keep Claxton out long.
Also out on Thursday were Day’Ron Sharpe, still nursing the sprained left ankle he suffered against the Lakers and Cam Johnson, bothered by a hamstring injury.
With Claxton out, Harry Giles got the start at center and scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Vaughn said Giles and other frontcourt players trying to earn a roster spot like Trendon Watford and Darius Bazley would get significant playing time.
“I believe in giving guys a chance to show how they can impact the team,’’ Vaughn said.
The coach pointed to Giles’ physicality and athleticism and the fact that the 6-foot-9 Watford could play point guard if necessary.
And Bazley’s “length, athleticism and ability to get downhill” made him valuable.
Mikal Bridges received plenty of preseason accolades in the annual preseason NBA GM survey, getting votes in categories that included top perimeter defenders, moving without the ball and most likely to have a breakout season.
defenders, moving without the ball and most likely
to have a breakout season.
The Nets’ guard took it all in stride before the game.
“It’s nice [and] I appreciate it, but it doesn’t mean [anything] to me,’’ Bridges said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done. That was going off last year and this is a whole new year. I’ve got to be better.”
Bridges thrived with the Nets after coming from Phoenix in the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Suns.
In 27 games with the Nets, Bridges scored 26.1 points per game, nearly double his career mark of 13.1.
And the other aspects of his game didn’t suffer because of his added production on offense.
Given his recognition by the NBA GMs, neither did Bridges’ defense.
His goal, though, isn’t about personal achievements.
“Just build as a player and build a culture and try and win games,’’ Bridges said of his mindset for the upcoming season. “That’s the biggest thing: come in here and win as many games as we can.”
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