The Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets have a highly anticipated matchup on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center where the two teams will meet for the first time since the blockbuster trade on Feb. 10 that sent James Harden to Philadelphia.
The Sixers sent former franchise cornerstone Ben Simmons to the Nets and while Simmons has yet to play for Brooklyn due to a back injury, he is at least been on the bench with the team and working out with his new team.
Simmons’ back injury will hold him out on Thursday as he will not play in his first game back in Philadelphia since the trade, but he is expected to at least make the trip and be on the bench.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and The Stadium:
Ben Simmons will not play in Thursday’s Nets-76ers game, but is expected to make the trip to Philadelphia and join the Nets on the bench inside Wells Fargo Center, sources said.
This will be the first time Simmons will be inside Wells Fargo Center for a game since Game 7 of the 2021 East semifinals. He requested a trade in August, reported to the team in October, and told the team he is not mentally ready yet to play, and he then was moved to Brooklyn for Harden.
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