Ben Simmons injury update: 76ers PG to undergo shoulder exam, report says

Tom Gatto

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Ben Simmons injury update: 76ers PG to undergo shoulder exam, report says image

The 76ers will have clearer picture of point guard Ben Simmons' shoulder injury on Thursday.

Simmons reportedly is scheduled for an exam then, after being forced to leave the team's game at Utah on Wednesday in the first half. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium tweeted a preliminary diagnosis:

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The 76ers had not confirmed the report as of late Wednesday.

Simmons exited with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter, although it appeared he was hurt early in the first quarter. 

He finished the game with two points, two assists and a rebound in 10 minutes.

Raul Neto replaced Simmons and received his first extended minutes of the season. The fifth-year pro came into Wednesday's game averaging 5.6 minutes in five games; he played 30 on Wednesday, contributing 11 points and four assists in the Sixers' 106-104 loss. He also committed four turnovers.

Philadelphia also has veteran guard Trey Burke on the roster, but Burke has yet to play this season, partly because of illness.

Simmons, 23, had been putting up his usual solid numbers prior to Wednesday. The fourth-year pro averaged 15.0 points, 7.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds in the Sixers' first six games. Philly was 5-1.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.