After missing the last two games, Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons will return to the Sixers' lineup on Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Simmons has recovered from a Grade 1 AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.
Brett Brown on the return of Ben Simmons (shoulder), who is available tonight: "He is an elite defensive player. Defensively I feel like we got a big boost."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) November 12, 2019
Simmons suffered the shoulder injury last week versus the Utah Jazz. He played 10 minutes and finished with two points. The Sixers, after starting the season 5-0, are 6-3 entering Tuesday's matchup against the Cavs.
Simmons is averaging 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game for the Sixers. The lefty is shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 56.0 percent from the free-throw line.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons signed a five-year, $170 million maximum rookie contract extension with the team. Many believe Philly is the favorite to win the Eastern Conference now that Kawhi Leonard is in the Western Conference playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
For the Sixers to win the title in 2019-20, Simmons will have to have some resemblance of a perimeter game. He has yet to hit a 3-pointer in a regular season game.
While the Sixers lost Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick this offseason, they rebounded nicely by signing Horford and acquiring Josh Richardson from the Miami Heat in the sign-and-trade deal for Butler. Horford, who will rest on Tuesday, is putting up 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on the season, while Richardson has been the sound two-way player Philly expected it was getting from Miami.
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