The Philadelphia 76ers (20-14, 6-9 Away), one of the league’s top scoring defenses, head to face the Oklahoma City Thunder (15-20, 10-8 Home) on Saturday. Philadelphia is playing the second of a back-to-back after being beaten by the New Orleans Pelicans 127-116 at Smoothie King Center yesterday.
Joel Embiid was a top performer in defeat with 37 points and five assists. The 76ers are the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Oklahoma City lost on Thursday at Spectrum Center, falling to the Charlotte Hornets 121-113. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points in defeat, leading the team.
The Thunder are 12th in the Western Conference. It’s the first meeting of the season between the teams. Philadelphia won both matchups between the teams last season, the last of which was a 100-87 triumph at Wells Fargo Center on February 11, their fifth straight head-to-head victory.
Embiid led the 76ers with 25 points, 19 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists. Derrick Favors had 16 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in the loss. The Sixers have been led this season by Embiid, who is averaging 33.8 points per game, best in the NBA.
Embiid also is contributing 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31.4 points per game have powered the Thunder on offense. He ranks as the fourth-highest scorer in the NBA. Gilgeous-Alexander also has tallied 5.8 assists per game.
Josh Giddey has collected 8.1 rebounds per game. Holding opponents to 108.5 points per game, the 76ers are one of the top scoring defenses in the league (2nd). The 76ers are 3-7 in their last 10 trips to Paycom Center.
Meanwhile, the 76ers are 3-2 when playing the second of a back-to-back this season and 0-2 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest. The Thunder are 1-6 with a rest advantage.In the last 10 games, Philadelphia is 8-2 with an average margin of +8.0 (118.7-110.7).
For the season, the 76ers are averaging 111.8 points per game, compared to 108.5 for opponents. Oklahoma City has gone 4-6 over the last 10, allowing 114.4 points per game on average while scoring only 114.1 (-0.3 margin).
76ERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Tyrese Maxey: 11.0 | 29.5 | -18.5
Points per game:
Tyrese Maxey: 9.0 | 22.0 | -13.0
Assists per game:
Joel Embiid: 3.2 | 4.3 | -1.1
THUNDER HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Tre Mann: 17.3 | 13.0 | +4.4
Points per game:
Tre Mann: 14.3 | 8.9 | +5.4
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Philadelphia 76ers (-175)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
