Ben Simmons told reporters on Tuesday that he’s planning to return on Friday when the Brooklyn Nets host the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center.
Simmons missed the last three games with a left lateral upper calf strain. He will miss his fourth game on Wednesday against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.
The Nets won two of the three games he missed since experiencing knee soreness in the first half of last week’s 109-102 victory against the Orlando Magic.
Simmons is averaging 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists in his first full season in Brooklyn since he was traded from Philadelphia in February.
In seven games before his latest injury, Simmons was averaging 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists, easily his best stretch since returning from a 470-day layoff due to mental health issues and back problems.
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