Ben Simmons exits game vs Utah Jazz with right shoulder injury

Ben Simmons has walked off the court and gone straight to the locker room after suffering a painful injury on Thursday.

Ben Simmons has walked off the court and gone straight to the locker room after sustaining an injury against Utah on Thursday (AEDT).

The team announced just before half time that Simmons had suffered a right shoulder injury and would not be returning to action for the rest of the game.

The Sixers had welcomed back All Star centre Joel Embiid after his suspension, but the loss of Simmons was obvious as the Sixers went into half time down 58-56 in Utah.

Video replays showed Simmons clutched at his right shoulder after fairly innocuous contact from a defender as he tried to barge his way into the post.

Simmons had earlier been spotted wincing in pain even before the contact.

He tried to play on for almost a full quarter, but he struggled to make an impact for his team.

He eventually left the court late in the second quarter and went straight to the locker room to have the injury looked at.

“Right shoulder soreness, will not return,” the Sixers said in a simple update of Simmons injury.

Injury Update:

Ben Simmons - right shoulder soreness

Will not return.

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 7, 2019

It came after NBA commentators noticed Simmons was clearly in pain as a result of the injury and was unable to straighten his right arm at times.

Ben Simmons is in lockeroom right now after hurting his right shoulder

Looks like it happened right here #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/hqonFss4gP

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) November 7, 2019

Sometime midway through first quarter ... looks like Ben Simmons hurt his shoulder. He grabbed it a few times and is currently in the locker room. #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/vAlS7kPSsy

— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) November 7, 2019

Simmons goes to the locker room. He could barely move his right arm.

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 7, 2019

The jazz and the sixers are tied at 46-46....5:10 remaining in the first half. Simmons is clearly in pain and asked out of the game. Bogdanovic has 10

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) November 7, 2019

He exited the game with two points, one rebound and two assists in ten minutes on the floor.

Coming off the Sixers’ first loss of the season, it was not the response Philadelphia was looking for.

Embiid led the team at half time with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Embiid was suspended for two games for a scuffle with Minnesota Timberwolves centre Karl-Anthony Towns last week.

Meanwhile, Aussie Joe Ingles had 10 points for the Jazz in the first half, hitting two of his three attempts from beyond the arc.

Despite a late resurgence from the visitors in the fourth quarter, the Utah Jazz eventually won the match 106-104.

Ben Simmons showdown with Donovan Mitchell didn’t eventuate.

The Sixers’ had been undefeated before Aussie Aron Baynes’ Phoenix Suns ambushed them this week.

The 76ers were the NBA’s only undefeated team before Tuesday’s clash in Phoenix. The Suns, with Queensland big man Baynes a powerhouse on the offensive and defensive ends, beat them 114-109.

Baynes finished with 15 points including three three-pointers, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocked shots and a steal.

Suns’ guard Devin Booker had a hot hand sinking 15 of 19 field goal attempts for 40 points.

Simmons had just six points on two-for-eight shooting as Baynes smothered the Australian All-Star close to the basket.

When Simmons was outside the key Baynes and the Suns largely stood back and dared him to shoot.

Philadelphia’s shooting guard Josh Richardson also had an off night missing eight of 11 field goals for eight points.

Booker and Suns point guard, Ricky Rubio, who had 21 points, dominated Simmons and Richardson.

“Offensively, I think our backcourt struggled,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. The 76ers drop to a five-win, one-loss record.

— with AAP