Sources: Brooklyn Nets hold out hope Ben Simmons can return for "couple" of regular-season games

Brooklyn Nets star  Ben Simmons has remained sidelined with an irritation of the L-4 disc of the lower spine, but there's hope he can return for a "couple" of regular games prior to the Eastern Conference playoffs, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

There had been an original target for a return on Friday vs. the Portland Trail Blazers, sources said, but that became impossible in recent weeks based on Simmons' inability to go more than a consecutive day or two in rehab without pain flaring up in the lower back and resetting his timeline, sources said.

Simmons has continued to receive treatment, and work on strengthening his back and restarting his basketball activities in 1-on-0 settings on the court. He had an epidural shot in Orlando, coach Steve Nash said Wednesday, and the hope is that will help with the back's recovery.

The Nets are hopeful that Simmons can return to play in regular season games prior to a postseason likely to begin in the play-in tournament in mid-April. The Nets play the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers in their two final regular season games on April 8 and 10, respectively, prior to the start of the play-in tournament that week.

The Nets are 36-33 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference now. Teams seeded 7-to-10 must qualify for the playoffs with either one or two victories in the play-in, based on their seedings.

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Simmons, 25, was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 10. After demanding a trade in the offseason, he remained inactive for the Sixers until the deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia.

The Nets are playing with Kevin Durant on a full-time status, and an unvaccinated Kyrie Irving currently only eligible for road games outside of New York.

Simmons is a three-time All-Star, and two-time All-Defensive first team selection. Simmons averaged 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals for the Sixers last season.