This is what the Nets pictured — or at least something close to it — when they traded for Ben Simmons 10 months ago. The numbers on Friday weren’t about the 12 points and 11 rebounds for Simmons, though the Nets were happy to take those. No, they were about the 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven turnovers by the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was covered by Simmons, which counts as a frustrating night for the perennial MVP candidate. 

Simmons will never be a dynamic offensive presence, but assuming the Nets make the playoffs, his performance Friday is the kind they will expect from the former No. 1 overall pick who has fallen far from grace. Guard the other team’s best player, and spend the evening frustrating him. 

The Nets, who are 21-12 with an eight-game winning streak in their pockets as they spend Christmas watching the NBA from their homes, might just have a winning formula with that.

“He’s incredible,” Kevin Durant said of Simmons, who also had eight assists and three steals. “His aggression was good all night. A couple of those [four] fouls, I didn’t think were fouls, but it is what it is. If you keep playing physical, there might be some questionable ones there. … Giannis is the most physical guy in the league so there’s gonna be some questionable ones there. 

“I think he stayed with it all game. Made life tough and I think we all did a solid job of showing him a crowd a little bit, making him kick out and forcing him to turn the ball over. Seven turnovers, so Ben was the catalyst for that.”

For the first time in a long time, all seems to be right for the Nets, who seem to have found a formula in which Simmons, Durant and Kyrie Irving can win together — and just as importantly, get along with each other and everyone else involved. If there was some skepticism over the quality of opponents the Nets had beaten on their current run, the win over the Bucks on Friday should put that to rest. Their game Monday at Cleveland will be another test. 

Simmons is easily the biggest question mark of the Nets’ Big 3, at least on the court, after he sat for all of last season and forced a trade from the 76ers following a disastrous playoff performance in 2021. The Nets are still being cautious with the back injury that kept Simmons out upon his trade to Brooklyn in February, and he has attempted just one 3-pointer this season. 

His fragility (Simmons also had a foot injury that kept him out for a season after being drafted) and reluctance to shoot are limitations that are unlikely to go away. But Simmons can make the sort of difference on the defensive end that matters, and his passing ability can make up for some deficiencies on the other end.

The Bucks got a reminder of that as Simmons played a critical role in the 118-100 Nets win. If it is a harbinger of what Simmons can add in the games that matter most, then the Nets will suddenly look like one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference. 

“They’re gonna make some 3s, but we didn’t panic,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said following the win Friday. “Giannis is gonna get through us sometimes and we’re not gonna overreact but can we be steady throughout the course of the night to put multiple bodies in front? And it’s tough to do because he’s coming downhill, coming at you with force and we want to get hit. That’s part of it. I thought overall, guys responded extremely well.” 

One guy, in particular.