The Philadelphia 76ers found out Monday that they would not have the services of the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Simmons, against the Golden State Warriors. It cost them against Warriors star Steph Curry as he went for 49 points and drilled 10 triples in a win over the Sixers.
Simmons was ruled out due to a non-COVID related illness and that is the good thing. In a season played in the middle of a pandemic, it is always good to hear that a player does not have COVID.
Coach Doc Rivers gave a bit of an update on Simmons after the loss, but he is not entirely sure how sick he is or whether he can return Wednesday.
“I have no idea,” said Rivers. “I’ve used this before but I am not a real doctor. I didn’t do the exam. I don’t know, but whenever someone has a cold, everyone thinks COVID and it wasn’t COVID. So I expect him back, but I can’t guarantee you that. I just don’t know how bad it is.”
When it comes to the specific illness, Rivers could not really specify, but he does think it is a stomach virus.
“I have no idea. I really don’t know,” he finished. “I don’t check much. They tell me, he’s sick, that’s all, honestly, all I know. I think it is a stomach virus but I can’t, with certainty, tell you that.”
The team plays the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday and they will need him against Devin Booker in order to bounce back from this loss on Monday.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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