Ben Simmons’ time with the Brooklyn Nets appears to be over.

The No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft was not with the Nets for their game Friday night against the Miami Heat as the sides work toward a buyout of his contract.

Coach Jordi Fernandez said Simmons would remain away from the team, though said he would hold off for now on commenting on the expected parting. He did praise Simmons for working his way back from a series of injuries that caused such an ineffective time in Brooklyn.

“I know that not playing for a season and then limited games another season and now fighting his way back, playing I think it was a little over 20 minutes or mid-20s,” Fernandez said. “So that’s pretty good. Really good to see that after going through a surgery, now being back playing basketball.”

But it’s far less than the Nets hoped when they acquired the three-time All-Star in a trade for James Harden at the 2022 trade deadline. He didn’t play at all the rest of that season after hurting his back trying to work his way back into shape after sitting out the first half of that season in Philadelphia.

The injury problems, mostly due to lower back nerve damage, continued to limit Simmons. He made it through just half of the 2022-23 season and played only 15 games last season.

Simmons has played in 33 of the Nets’ 51 games this season, starting 24, and averaging 6.2 points and 6.9 assists.

Simmons is making $40 million this season and will be a free agent afterward.

CAVALIERS 134, WIZARDS 124 >> Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, Evan Mobley added 27 and Cleveland won at Washington on Friday night.

Darius Garland added 23 points and Jarrett Allen had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Eastern Conference leaders.

Jordan Poole scored a career-high 45 points for the NBA-worst Wizards, who were trying to extend a season-best winning streak to four games.

HORNETS 117, SPURS 116 >> Miles Bridges hit a 3-pointer from the corner off a wraparound feed from LaMelo Ball with 1.4 seconds left to lift Charlotte at home over San Antonio to snap a six-game skid.

Bridges finished with 25 points and Ball had 24 points and 10 assists.

Rookie Stephon Castle finished with a career-high 33 points for the Spurs.

HAWKS 115, BUCKS 110 >> Trae Young had 24 points and seven assists and host Atlanta overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Milwaukee.

Mouhamed Gueye had 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, and Dyson Daniels had 15 points and 10 assists for the Hawks.

Bobby Portis had 26 points and 15 rebounds for Milwaukee, with All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo missing his third straight game because of tightness in his left calf. Damian Lillard had 23 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

NETS 102, HEAT 86 >> Cam Johnson scored 18 points and Brooklyn outscored visiting Miami 31-9 in the fourth quarter.

Miami shot 2 for 21 (9.5%) in the fourth after leading by six through three quarters.