Sixers’ Ben Simmons out vs. Chicago Bulls, sidelined for second straight game

On Wednesday, coach Doc Rivers told reporters he thought Simmons had the stomach flu and the team didn’t believe the illness was related to COVID-19.

Sixers guard Ben Simmons drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 6.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

by Keith Pompey

Updated Feb. 19, 2021, 7:07 p.m. ET

Published Feb. 19, 2021, 7:03 p.m. ET

Ben Simmons will remain sidelined.

The 76ers point guard missed his second straight game with an illness Friday night against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center. On Wednesday, coach Doc Rivers told reporters he thought Simmons had a stomach flu, and the team didn’t believe the illness was related to COVID-19. Simmons did not participate in Friday morning’s shootaround.

All this comes after he finished with a career-high 42 points to go with 12 assists and nine rebounds in Monday’s 134-123 loss to the Utah Jazz. In all, Simmons has now missed five games this season. The Sixers are 1-3 without him.

Shake Milton also missed Friday’s game with a sprained left ankle. This will be the fifth straight game that he’s been sidelined suffering the injury on Feb. 9 against the Sacramento Kings.

Milton is averaging career highs of 14.0 points and 3.0 assists in 22 games with one start. Simmons is averaging 15.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 25 games..