Report: Nets optimistic Simmons could play in 1st round

The Brooklyn Nets are hopeful that star Ben Simmons could make his team debut in the first round of the playoffs, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Simmons hasn't played for the Nets since they acquired him at the trade deadline, but he has been ramping up his workload recently.

Nets head coach Steve Nash recently ruled out Simmons for the rest of the regular season and the play-in tournament; the 25-year-old guard is dealing with a back injury suffered while ramping up his conditioning.

Nash told reporters, including ESPN's Nick Friedell, on Sunday after Brooklyn's 134-126 victory over the Indiana Pacers that Simmons hasn't started any conditioning and there's "no timetable for his return right now."

The first overall pick of the 2016 draft has yet to play on an NBA court this season. He held out while with the Philadelphia 76ers before the team eventually moved him for fellow star James Harden.

With Kyrie Irving fully integrated into the lineup for the first time this season, the 43-38 Nets have started showing the promise many expected of them at the start of the year. Brooklyn has won three straight games ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale against the Indiana Pacers.