The Philadelphia 76ers entered tonight’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top club in the Western Conference, with a limp. Only nine players were available for the Sixers, and none of them were their three best players—Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. About 45 minutes prior to the game, George warmed up and appeared healthy, but it was later revealed that he would not be starting. Guershon Yabusele, Ricky Council, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Reggie Jackson were in the starting lineup.
The Thunder entered tonight’s game having won 12 of their previous 13 games, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the top team in the NBA, being their lone defeat during that time. They have the greatest defense in the NBA and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the early frontrunner for MVP. In Philadelphia, they sought to maintain their winning ways against the Sixers, who were lacking players.
Review of the Game
Given the opening lineup the Sixers used on the court, this game got off to a perfect start. The first few minutes were competitive, and the Thunder did what they always do: stifle their opponents on defense, give SGA the ball, and then move aside. Early on, the Thunder had more made baskets than the Sixers had points, and the home team had trouble scoring. Within the first few minutes, you could hear an Eagles chant because the Wells Fargo Center was so quiet. The away team led 37–21 at the end of the first quarter.
With a team that was primarily composed of two-way players, the Sixers displayed some tenacity as the second quarter got underway. With more passes to the open player, the offense was humming much better, and they played defense much better. Gilgeous-Alexander was on the bench when they brought the game within eight points. After his comeback, OKC got back to its previous level of play and gradually increased their advantage to a commanding 15 points at the half.
Nick Nurse tried to rouse the team by calling a timeout two minutes into the third quarter after the Thunder had increased their lead to 19 points. Following the timeout, the squad put up a strong fight against the Thunder, led by Guershon Yabusele, Ricky Council, Justin Edwards, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. After outscoring the Thunder 38-29 in the third quarter, they cut the advantage to six points with a frantic last-minute flurry that sent the stadium into a frenzy.
The Sixers went on a scoring rampage to force mistakes and make their three-pointers to start the fourth quarter. After a quiet first half, they gave the supporters something to cheer for early in the quarter when they narrowed the deficit to four points. The Thunder regained firm control of the game and shut out the Sixers’ outstanding effort after they cooled off after a timeout. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 32 points and nine assists as the Thunder defeated them 118-102. Justin Edwards led the Sixers with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Buckets from home
The young two-way players had the chance to play actual NBA minutes tonight because the hospital Sixers were playing. The pride of Philadelphia’s Imhotep Charter High School is Justin Edwards. After a disappointing one-and-done season at Kentucky, he was not selected in the draft. He has been a powerhouse for the Delaware Blue Coats after signing a two-way contract with Philadelphia.
He made the most of his minutes tonight when he had the chance. He displayed some on-ball juice and was aggressive in the offensive flow. He assumed responsibilities for protecting Jalen Williams and SGA, the two mainstays of the Thunder. Despite their harsh criticism, he accepted the task. He played 34 minutes and finished the game with a career-high 24 points.
Ned help!
This club’s season has been hampered by injuries, and today against OKC was no exception. However, it is evident that this squad needs a fresh boost of scoring and ball handling from a player under 30. Reggie Jackson started while Tyrese Maxey and veteran Kyle Lowry were sidelined. In 17 minutes of play, he managed to record 4 points, 4 assists, and 5 turnovers.
Due to Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond’s prolonged absences, they had to resign Pete Nance to their third two-way contract, leaving them only one remaining roster space. Adding another guard with some athleticism and the ability to create for himself should be Daryl Morey and Elton Brand’s first priority. Dennis Smith was available until he allegedly signed with Real Madrid, and Lonnie Walker IV is currently out there. Additionally, trade options can be available, but something must occur before the deadline.
Sixers just above the water
The Sixers had a great December, but after a 3–14 start, they are now eight games behind the.500 line and regressing. The Sixers have reached this stage due to injuries, erratic lineups, and dubious coaching. They hustle and play energetically on some nights and not on others. They played with vigor tonight, which is why the fourth quarter started closer than anticipated. Going forward, every time they play, their stars and others must put forth that kind of effort. It will be very difficult for them to get out of the hole they placed themselves in and into a playoff picture.
