Collins misses second straight game

The 76ers closed out the preseason Wednesday night with coach Doug Collins away from the sideline for the second consecutive game.

Collins, 59, underwent tests earlier in the day because of symptoms related to a concussion he suffered on Memorial Day. The Sixers, who have Thursday off, said they expected Collins to return to practice Friday.

"He's feeling better," said associate head coach Michael Curry, who filled in for Collins for the second straight game Wednesday. "Tests, as he sees them right now, were good. So we're expecting him bright and early Friday morning. [He will] start going over some tapes, getting ready for the start of the season."

Collins left Cincinnati on Tuesday before the Sixers' 111-95 loss to the Cavaliers and returned to Philadelphia to see a neurologist about dizziness and headaches apparently stemming from the concussion.

"Obviously, we're all concerned about Coach, for his health," forward Jason Kapono said. "Any time you get a concussion, it's serious. So we're definitely glad that you recognize it and that you take time away to get the proper tests done and the proper treatment.

"We briefly [exchanged] text messages. He said he's fine, and that he's going through some tests, and he'll see us as soon as he's cleared."

Playing in the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday, the Sixers closed out the preseason with a 118-91 win against the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers, 2-5 in the preseason, registered their other win, 103-92, at home Oct. 12 against Boston, though the Celtics' regulars did not play.

Curry, who was the Pistons' head coach for the 2008-09 season, entered Wednesday's game intent on giving the Sixers' starters full minutes.

Curry said before the game that he wanted to see the team's defense improve with ball pressure and the Sixers establish their presence in the paint by blocking shots and drawing offensive fouls.

"The games we played and held teams to pretty good numbers - field-goal percentage, defense-wise - we've taken multiple charges in those games," Curry said.

The Sixers open the regular season Wednesday night at home against the Heat.

Sixers win. Kapono made 4 of 7 three-pointers, scoring 20 points in the victory over the Knicks. Andre Iguodala had 20 points and nine rebounds for the winners.