Ben Simmons has hit his first hurdle in yet another injury-marred NBA season as Nikola Jokic enjoyed a record-breaking show of dominance, lifting Denver to a 144-139 overtime win over Brooklyn.
Simmons entered the Nets' 2024-25 campaign with renewed optimism despite managing only 57 games over the past three seasons, mostly because of recurring back injuries.
The former No.1 draft pick, who hasn't played for Australia since 2013, said on the eve of the season he was feeling fresh and had not suffered "one setback" since undergoing back surgery in March.
Simmons featured in Brooklyn's first three games of the season but was rested from their home clash with the Nuggets on Wednesday (AEDT), when Jokic had 29 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists.
The Australian is set to return in the Nets' match against Memphis on Thursday (AEDT), but will continue to be managed in a similar fashion whenever his side play on consecutive days.
Nets coach Jordi Fernandez explained Simmons, who remains the subject of swirling trade speculation, was being omitted because of the quick turnaround.
"Health is the most important thing for us. With Ben the plan is, for now, not to play back-to-backs until we give a different update," Fernandez told reporters.
"Right now he's missing the front of the back to back.
"I'm not going to give you the exact minutes but he will play good minutes (against Memphis).
"I'd love to have the whole roster but the reality with the NBA is there's things you can control, things you cannot control."
Jokic's hot start to the season continued with the 150th triple-double of his NBA career.
It is the first time in NBA history that a player has logged multiple triple-doubles and multiple 40-point games within his first four games.
The Nets led by one when Dorian Finney-Smith went to the foul line with 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. He only made one of two, allowing Jokic’s inside bucket to tie the score with 8.8 seconds remaining.
Finney-Smith then missed an open three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.
Cam Thomas gave the Nets a 127-125 lead with the first basket of overtime, but the Nuggets scored the next eight points and led the rest of the way.
Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon each scored 24 points for the Nuggets, while Russell Westbrook added 22.
Dennis Schroder scored 28 points for Brooklyn, who led by 17 in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving scored 16 of his 35 points in the third quarter as the Dallas Mavericks held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-114 in the first rematch of last season's Western Conference finals.
Luka Doncic had a late surge to finish with 24 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
