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After not playing a second all season, Ben Simmons is going to try to make his debut in the postseason and help the Nets stave off elimination.

Simmons first sat out with the 76ers citing mental health issues and now is racing against time with the Nets to recover from a herniated L-4 disk in his lower back.

And if Simmons wins that race – he’s been ruled out of Saturday’s Game 3 against the Celtics at Barclays Center, but is hopeful of playing Game 4 two nights later – his reward will be facing the NBA’s hottest team and the league’s most ferocious defense, which has been smothering even Kevin Durant. He’ll be doing it after almost an entire year off and – if the Nets lose Saturday – in an elimination game.