Sixers absorb two more shots with injuries to Joel Embiid and Jared McCain

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Are the 76ers cursed?

Are the basketball gods still upset over the team’s multiyear tank known as “The Process”? Or are the Sixers simply are one of most unfortunate franchises when it comes to injuries?

Whatever the cause, the flood of injuries the team has experienced since the beginning of this season has yet to subside. It’s gotten to the point where coach Nick Nurse is often asked more about his team’s injury report than on-court performances.

Such was the case Sunday as the Sixers (7-16) were preparing to face the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night at the Spectrum Center.

» READ MORE: The Sixers must do a better job of getting Paul George involved, regardless of who’s on the floor

Center Joel Embiid’s status for the game was unknown after he suffered a sinus fracture Friday during a 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid was evaluated after the game and again on Saturday. The 2023 league MVP had a third evaluation scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The team was awaiting the results of the assessment before making a determination on Embiid’s playing status.

Meanwhile, rookie guard Jared McCain is out indefinitely after he suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee on Friday.

The two latest setbacks added to the misery of the Sixers, who have been snakebitten by injuries to several players all season.

“We can’t seem to clear the runway and get going right,” Nurse said. “And when we do, the snow piles up again, it seems like, whatever way you want to look at it. But we just keep going, and ... you’ve got to do what you can today, which is what we did.”

However, rookie center Adem Bona (left knee) remained out of practice. Forward Caleb Martin (right shoulder impingement) was a limited participant. The two are listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, reserve point guard Kyle Lowry (lower back spasms) participated fully.

The injuries to Embiid and McCain are a major blow for a team that had been in the process of turning things around. The Sixers had won four of five games before losing the Pacers. That contest was the start of what was believed to be a vital 14-game stretch for the Sixers in a bid to enter postseason contention. And McCain was expected to have a leading role.

“It’s certainly very disappointing for him, having a great season and all that stuff,” Nurse said. “I really don’t have a timeline yet until he gets the procedure done. That should happen shortly this week.”

» READ MORE: Joel Embiid’s availability has always been an issue. How bad will it be for the Sixers this time?

The 20-year-old leads all rookies in scoring at 15.3 points per game. He was the Eastern Conference rookie of the month for October and November. And he was the rookie-of-the-year front-runner.

“It’s certainly a difficult one,” Nurse said. “Long-term I think is most important in perspective, right? How does this affect him going forward in his career, which we hope is many, many years? He’ll never really get a chance to go back and try to win the rookie of the year award, which I think is a major one to have. … It’s obviously a tough way to go out and not have it. ...

“But again, keep it in perspective. It’s a long career. Hopefully get him as healthy as we can, and get him ready to go as soon as we can.”

The Sixers have to replace a backup point guard and a solid three-point shooter with the loss of McCain. But they’ve been trying to piece things together since the start of training camp because of injuries — most notably to Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey.

Embiid missed the entire preseason and 17 of the first 21 games because of complications involving his surgically repaired left knee, including swelling, along with a three-game suspension. George missed 10 games after hyperextending his left knee twice, along with load management. Maxey was sidelined six games with a right hamstring strain.

Because of the constant injuries, the Sixers have utilized 14 starting lineups in the season’s first 23 games.

“You definitely know it’s a mental test for guys,” Martin, who missed three games with injuries, said of the team’s injury bug. “And you know that’s what comes with this game sometimes. A lot of great teams, it’s never been an easy road.

“We’ve got a lot of guys with a lot of talent. Sometimes things happen and it makes you adjust.”

The Sixers keep making those adjustments as the injuries pile up. Despite that, Martin said the players are still in a good place mentally.

“Obviously, we’d love to be in a better position all the way down the line,” he said. “But [there’s] all that support from the top to the bottom for each other and the team. And the goal has still been the same — just to progress and get better and find ways to win games.”