Nets’ Simmons (knee) exits, listed as day-to-day

Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPN Chicago. Friedell is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and joined ESPNChicago.com for its launch in April 2009.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons exited Monday night’s 109-102 win over the Orlando Magic because of left knee soreness and did not return.

Simmons, who has missed six games already this season because of the same injury, exited in the second quarter.

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said Simmons was having some discomfort in the knee and asked to come out. He doesn’t think Simmons will need another MRI but the team will see how he’s feeling on Tuesday and are listing Simmons as day-to-day for now.

Since returning to the floor after missing a Nov. 13 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Simmons has played his best basketball of the season — averaging 10.5 points, 7 rebounds and 5.2 assists during the month of November.

Simmons finished Monday’s game with zero points, four rebounds and three assists in 12 minutes.

The Nets are already playing without big man Yuta Watanabe, who remains out because of a right hamstring strain. Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said before the game that Watanabe had another MRI on his hamstring on Monday but that the results haven’t returned yet.

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