Ben Simmons once again hears boos from 76ers fans: 'funny to me'

PHILADELPHIA — It was just a one-game scare for Ben Simmons after all.

The Nets star returned in Saturday’s 136-121 win against the 76ers after missing Wednesday’s game due to a left knee contusion.

In 14 minutes, Simmons recorded nine rebounds and five assists while not attempting a shot.

He was also booed by 76ers fans for the first time after checking in with seven minutes left in the first quarter, and those jeers continued every time he touched the ball.

They cheered when Simmons was whistled for a foul or couldn’t connect with a teammate on a pass, but outside of that, his third game in Wells Fargo Center since the February 2022 trade didn’t feature many welcoming — sarcastic or genuine — responses.

“It’s funny to me,” Simmons said. “I got grown men pissed off and yelling at me. … It’s not that deep. It’s sports, but it comes with it so I enjoy it.”

Ben Simmons (right) battles Jaden Springer for the ball during the Nets’ 136-121 win over the 76ers. AP

Simmons was injured Monday when attempting to block a layup in the fourth quarter, getting subbed out and then ultimately missing another game after the cameo followed 38 straight missed games.

He called it “pretty annoying,” but initial results — and his quick return — provided optimism that he had avoided another injury in a career filled with, and defined by, them.

“That is not at all something that’s going to linger,” Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said before the game. “Something that just acutely happened in the game [Wednesday], and a couple days of treatment, responded to and hopefully we continue down the path of playing.”

In the second quarter, Simmons grabbed a rebound and pushed the ball to Mikal Bridges for a transition shot that drew a foul.

Simmons added pace off the bench, Vaughn said, and the Nets’ drive-and-kick was “probably some of our best of the year” as a result.

He also brought size to their second unit and kept creating open shots for guards, Cam Thomas added.

Vaughn had expressed his “hopeful expectation” Friday that the Nets would have their star back in the lineup at Wells Fargo Center, where Simmons spent the first four healthy seasons of his career.

Ben Simmons, who had five assists and nine rebounds, defends Tyrese Maxey during the Nets’ loss. AP

That ended up being an accurate timeline, and the Nets flashed their offensive potential with Simmons as facilitator.

“It’s impeccable,” Lonnie Walker IV said of Simmons’ contributions without taking a shot. “I think for the most part, people love to talk the BS as far as him not scoring or whatever it might be.

“But he’s a basketball player. He knows the game really well, and he plays the game the right way.”

Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle sprain) missed his third consecutive game and is still day-to-day. … Dennis Smith Jr. (right foot soreness) didn’t play after testing his injury before the game.

Day’Ron Sharpe (hyperextended left knee) has done some court work with one of the Nets’ coaches but without any “extra bodies around him,” Vaughn said.

Spencer Dinwiddie moved into fourth place in team history with his 1,971st Nets assist, according to the team. He trails Deron Williams (2,078), Kenny Anderson (2,363) and Jason Kidd (4,620).