The first questions posed during Nick Nurse’s pregame news conference were about a player who never stepped on the court Friday. Yet the trickle-down effects of rookie standout Jared McCain’s meniscus surgery — which the 76ers announced on Thursday night would officially end his 2024-25 season — were apparent during a brutal 123-115 loss to the shorthanded,

As the Philadelphia 76ers got back to work on Thursday following a win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, one has to wonder whether they were able to have some of their injured players return to the floor.

CJ McCollum scored 38 points as the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans opened a three-game road trip with a 123-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

The New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers have had promising seasons derailed by multiple injuries to stars. On Friday night, CJ McCollum boosted the Pelicans and his trade value. McCollum scored 38 points and shot 13-of-24 as the shorthanded Pelicans beat the Sixers 123-115.

Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia 76ers explain what went wrong in the loss to CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans.