The Philadelphia 76ers are in Milwaukee on Saturday night to take on the team with the best record in the NBA in the Bucks. They needed to be at full strength in order to give themselves their best chance and for the moment they were, but then they were not.
After Ben Simmons was ruled available for the matchup after missing a game due to lower back tightness, the All-Star guard started strong on Saturday scoring five points on 2-for-2 shooting. However, he aggravated the back injury and he went back to the locker room for treatment before the team ruled him out the rest of the game.
The #Sixers PG irritated his lower back on a layup in the first quarter. He leaves the game with 5 points on 2-2 shooting in 4 minutes, 44 seconds. https://t.co/aRuV8rmdCn
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 23, 2020
It is such a big blow to a Sixers team that really needs their leader out on the floor in order to win this one. They really need Simmons’ elite defensive ability against Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Philadelphia is off to a tough start as they trail the Bucks in the second quarter 33-27. [lawrence-related id=26297,26290,26273]