PHILADELPHIA — Sixers rookie guard Jared McCain was released from the hospital Thursday morning after a scary fall in Wednesday night’s preseason game against Brooklyn.
McCain suffered a pulmonary contusion and was evaluated for but found not to have a concussion, the 76ers said in a statement. He will miss Friday’s postseason finale in Orlando and is day-to-day.
By and large, it’s a good outcome after a scary moment that marred the fourth quarter of a 117-95 win at the Wells Fargo Center Wednesday.
McCain exited with 4:01 to play after a fall flat on his back under the basket. He walked off with assistance but was coughing and struggling to breathe.
“I’ve never seen something like that before,” coach Nick Nurse said postgame. “We hope he’s OK.”
The 16th overall pick logged 23 minutes, scoring nine points to go with seven rebounds, two assists and five turnovers. He shot 3-for-10 from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range.
His injury overshadowed what would’ve been the story of the game, which was a 76ers’ depth unit that dominated Nets regulars, including probable starters Cameron Johnson, Dennis Schroeder and Dorian Finney-Smith. The Nets, coming off a 32-win season and having moved on from Spencer Dinwiddie at last year’s deadline and Mikal Bridges in the offseason, are in rebuild mode.
But even still, a 30-16 margin in the fourth quarter was impressive.
For the first nine minutes of the quarter, the group featured a rotation of McCain, Ricky Council, Lester Quinones, Justin Edwards, Jeff Dowtin and Adem Bona.
Edwards, an Imhotep product, led all players at plus-21 in 14 minutes. He scored six points and had three rebounds.
“It’s hard to read anything into the preseason, what kind of tempo and stuff is going on out there,” Nurse said. “But Justin’s done nothing but play solid the whole preseason. He’s played really good defensively. He’s made really good decisions offensively.”
Quinones (on 3-for-7 from 3-point range) and Council had nine points each, Quinones a plus-16 in 16 minutes. Dowtin had 11 points and three assists in 19 minutes. Bona, the 41st pick in the draft, got 12 minutes, scoring four points.
It’s not a unit that projects to game minutes in season, but there are some flashes within that could contribute.
“I think just from us being together all summer, we have that brotherhood mentality, figuring out how to play with each other on the court and figuring out where guys like to get the ball at,” Dowtin said. “I think it just becomes easier and more natural when we’re on the court, finding guys in open spots.”
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The 76ers waived four players Thursday: Forwards Max Fielder, Isaiah Mobley and Jordan Tucker, and guard Judah Mintz.
Tucker had appeared in four preseason games, the other three in three. Each played the final three minutes against Brooklyn.
