Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash said that Ben Simmons had advanced his recovery from a herniated disk, but poured cold water on a report that said the Australia could feature as early as game four of this play-off series.
“I don’t think we’re targeting any game. I think we’re trying to see how he develops, how he progresses,” Nash told reporters before Brooklyn’s 114-107 loss to the Boston Celtics.
“That’s something that, with the recent history since the trade, has not been straightforward. So while it’s exciting to see him on the floor and see him make progress, I don’t think any of us are saying it’s imminent.
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“He had a workout this morning, I think he came out OK. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. But it was another step, and so far so good.”
Led by 22 points from Jaylen Brown and 19 from Jayson Tatum, the Celtics came back from a huge deficit to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Tatum held Kevin Durant without a basket in the second half, while seven Boston players reached double digits in a brilliant team performance.
Celtics’ coach Ime Udoka said they wanted to crowd Durant whenever possible.
“I think we did that,” he said. “We want to make him work defensively and offensively have bodies on him the whole time and try to wear him down.”
Australian Patty Mills played 18 minutes for the Nets, scoring just five points.
The lead was as big as 17 late in the second quarter, when Brooklyn led 62-45. The Celtics hung around after the break and took a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish with eight minutes left.
“I think our intensity dropped a little bit in the second half. We also didn’t convert,” Nash said.
“We had opportunities, we didn’t convert.”
Game three will be in Brooklyn on Sunday morning, Australian time.
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