BREAKING: Ben Simmons' Final Injury Status For Nets-Bulls Game

Ben Simmons has been ruled out for Friday's game.

On Friday night, the Brooklyn Nets are in Illinois to face off with the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.  

For the game, they will be without one of their best players, as Ben Simmons has been ruled out due to a knee injury.     

Brian Lewis of The New York Post reports that head coach Jacque Vaughn said Simmons would also miss Sunday's game against the Atlanta Hawks in Georgia.

Lewis: "Ben Simmons is in a "strengthening phase," per Jacque Vaughn. He'll miss at least two games. The #Nets have NOT considered shutting him down for the season."

Ben Simmons is in a "strengthening phase," per Jacque Vaughn. He'll miss at least two games. The #Nets have NOT considered shutting him down for the season.

— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) February 24, 2023

The three-time NBA All-Star has had an up-and-down season but is averaging a respectable 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals per contest in 42 games (while shooting 56.6% from the field).  

Right now, the Nets are the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 34-24 record in 58 games. 

They are 5-5 in their last ten games and a very solid 16-13 in the 29 games they have played on the road away from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

That said, the Nets will be a much different team than they were before the trading deadline. 

The franchise traded away All-Stars Kevin Durant (to the Phoenix Suns) and Kyrie Irving (to the Dallas Mavericks). 

As for the Bulls, they are the 11th seed in the east with a 26-33 record in 59 games. 

At home, they are 16-13 in 29 games hosted at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.