PHILADELPHIA — Sixers coach Nick Nurse was not caught by surprise by Thursday’s news that Jared McCain’s knee meniscus repair would cost him the balance of his rookie season. But he wasn’t any less disappointed, first and foremost for the guard. McCain’s rookie season has officially ended after 23 games (eight starts), the last a Friday the 13th in December against Indiana where he left after hitting his head on the court, passed a concussion test to return to action but reported knee pain the next day that led to a surgical repair of his left meniscus. “It’s certainly disappointing,” Nurse said before Friday’s game against New Orleans. “… He was really impacting the team in a positive manner. I think any rookie picked in that kind of range that comes in and vaults to the top of all rookies is a credit to the player and the organization as well.” McCain, the 16th pick out of Duke in the 2024 draft, averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in his brief entrée to life in the NBA. He was in Rookie of the Year conversation upon his injury and was named NBA Rookie of the Month for games in October and November, a plaque presented to a crutch-using McCain on Monday before a game with Phoenix. McCain had not just worked his way into the rotation but had been one of the few bright spots in the 76ers’ injury morass. Now he finds himself there for the season, with Nurse couching the thorough rehab as in the player’s long-term best interest. It’s to the immediate detriment of the 76ers, though. They’ve struggled to fill the backcourt void, particularly with a nagging hip injury slowing Kyle Lowry. McCain provided a spark off the bench that the Sixers are still trying to cover. The emotional lift he provided is even harder to compensate for. “I think we miss it a little bit,” Nurse said. “There’s some guys that are playing really hard and all that kind of stuff. But we still miss that little spark. I think he was kind of special in that he gives it.” “We’ve all been trying to try to be more vocal with good stuff on the bench, just encouraging the guys on the court,” forward Guerschon Yabusele said. “Just try to bring that positive energy and stay positive no matter what.” * * * If there wasn’t injury news, there’d be no news at all around the Center. So all aboard the carousel: What once was hip discomfort is now a hip sprain for Lowry. It cost him five games in November and three and counting on this homestand. Nurse confirmed that the team is getting more aggressive in treatment. The ailment remains minor though not immediately resolving. “It’s not like he’s out a week or he’s out two weeks,” Nurse said. “But I don’t think it’s quite day-to-day yet either.” * * * Also in perpetual injury limbo is, of course, Joel Embiid, who missed his third straight game. Good news is that the left knee the team is managing manages to be feeling good. Bad news is that the left foot sprain Embiid suffered in Boston on Christmas, then played five of the next six games on, is barking. He practiced Thursday and Nurse made it sound like he was close for the Pelicans game, but no dice. “It’s been aggravated, for sure. That’s why he’s not playing,” Nurse said. “He’s day-to-day. He practiced yesterday. Hoping that maybe he’d be able to go today, but just not quite ready. Hopefully he’s ready to go for the next one.” * * * NOTES >> Andre Drummond (left toe strain) missed his third straight game and his seventh of nine. KJ Martin (stress reaction, left foot) missed his ninth consecutive game. This against a New Orleans team without Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones and that announced a suspension of Zion Williamson for a violation of team rules 90 minutes before tipoff. … It’s a measure of the unevenness of play that Nurse went to 10 players before the midpoint of the second quarter, more than his usual nine-man rotation. He’s looking in particular for a backcourt spark in the absence of McCain and Lowry. Paul George picking up two points and three fouls in 13 first-half minutes didn’t help, and the 76ers started 3-for-15 from 3-point range.