The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a 121-107 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Friday, but the loss added more woes for injury to one of their brightest young stars, Jared McCain. During the game, the 76ers rookie sustained a meniscus tear in his left knee.
According to a statement from the team, an MRI conducted on Saturday revealed that McCain had a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that McCain will undergo surgery and begin his recovery process immediately.
BREAKING: Jared McCain is out indefinitely with a torn meniscus, per @Underdog__NBA pic.twitter.com/57rZzTemL6
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 14, 2024
The injury is expected to keep McCain out indefinitely. Before his injury, McCain had been positively impacting the court, finishing the game against the Pacers with five points and three assists in 29 minutes of play.
McCain’s injury is yet another setback for the 76ers, who were already grappling with the ongoing injury concerns of their superstar, Joel Embiid. Embiid, too, faced a troubling injury on Friday night.
Late in the first half, Embiid sustained a facial injury after Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin unintentionally struck him in the face while attempting to grab an offensive rebound. Embiid couldn’t return to the game, and his status moving forward remains uncertain.
Jared McCain’s Stellar Rookie Season Performance
Jared McCain’s injury is particularly tough for the team, as the rookie showed signs of becoming a major contributor. The 76ers selected McCain as the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he quickly became one of the league’s most exciting young players.
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McCain’s performance this season has been outstanding. He leads all rookies in scoring. So far, the rookie has averaged 15.3 points per game, along with 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. McCain has also had eight games in which he scored 20 or more points.
The former Duke star’s remarkable play earned him the title of NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for both October and November. His stellar start to the season has made him a strong favorite for winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Also Read: Joel Embiid Injury Update: How Long Will Philadelphia 76ers Star Remain Out Of Action?
