OAKLAND -- After a frightful fall Saturday night, followed by an ambulance trip to the hospital, Warriors guard Pat McCaw passed all preliminary tests during his stay at UC Davis Medical Center and was released Sunday afternoon.
He was able to walk out of the facility, coach Steve Kerr said during his pregame news conference prior to tipoff between the Warriors and Suns at Oracle Arena.
“Just a huge relief,” Kerr said. “Last night was really terrifying.”
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After undergoing X-rays, a CT scan and an MRI test, McCaw was diagnosed with a lumbar spine contusion and will miss at least three games. He is scheduled for reevaluation with a spine specialist Thursday, after which the Warriors may be a timeline for his return.
The injury occurred in the third quarter of the Warriors 112-96 win over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.
McCaw went up for a dunk and while airborne was clipped right thigh by the shoulder of Kings guard Vince Carter, which knocked McCaw off balance. He landed hard on his back and immediately thrashed about in agony. McCaw remained down for several minutes, without moving, as players from both teams gathered around him before paramedics arrived to place him on a stretcher, wheeling him out of the arena and transporting him to the hospital.
Informed that McCaw initially had no feeling in some of his extremities, Kerr and several coaches and players went to UC Davis to visit.
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“He was lying immobilized and maybe even a little bit in shock,” Kerr said. “I think he had some painkillers. But it was really until (Sunday) morning that I felt good about the news. Everything seems to be progressing now."
McCaw’s parents and his girlfriend were with him when he was dismissed from the hospital and accompanied him on the return trip to Oakland.