76ers Lose To Thunder 118-102 With Numerous Players Injured

It’s officially a losing streak for the Philadelphia 76ers, as Nick Nurse’s squad dropped their third consecutive loss in a row Tuesday night, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-102. The 76ers were without any of their big three. Joel Embiid missed his fifth straight game with a foot injury, while Paul George and Tyrese Maxey were out with ankle and hand injuries, respectively, that were obtained during their recent loss to the Orlando Magic.

Due to the big three’s injuries as well as numerous other players out for the 76ers, it was the Guerschon Yabusele and Justin Edwards show. Yabusele had 17 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Edwards finished with a career-high 25 points drilling four threes. Jeff Dowtin also finished with a career-high in points with 18.

For the Thunder, it was MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was the star of the game, finishing with 32 points, and nine assists on 12-15 shooting. Jalen Williams was impressive as well scoring 24 points and adding six assists and four rebounds.

As the game tipped off, Jalen Williams took no time to get a lead building with four quick points, however, Guerschon Yabusele drained a three for the 76ers’ first bucket of the night. The Thunder knocked down three straight shots but a dunk from Yabusele, and an and-one bucket and free throw from Rickey Council IV made it just a one-point game.

However, the Thunder went on a huge 22-2 run over the next six minutes of action. It began with a mid-range shot from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and then two threes from Lu Dort. The 76ers then got their sole bucket of the run thanks to a Jeff Dowtin Jr. pull-up jumper but was immediately answered with an alley-oop from Isaiah Hartenstein. The remainder of the run turned into the SGA show as Gilgeous-Alexander knocked down three shots in a row to make it 32-11 OKC.

After a timeout, the backup 76ers finally got shots knocked down with Dowtin scoring a layup and Council and Justin Edwards both nailing threes. As the final seconds of the quarter were ticking down, former 76er Isiah Joe drilled a three of his own to make it 37-21 after 12 minutes.

Adem Bona slammed a dunk for the first bucket of the second quarter, however, Jalen Williams answered with a pair of free throws and Alex Caruso joined in on the fun with a long three-pointer. Down 19, the 76ers finally went on a decent run of their own to cut the deficit back to single digits. Edwards hit back-to-back buckets, Dowtin added on with a mid-range shot of his own, and threes from Yabusele and Eric Gordon made it 44-35.

The 76ers run finally ended thanks to a 19-footer from Jalin Williams and Joe added on with a slam dunk. Gordon then knocked down another three, but another dunk, this time from Dort, a three from Jaylin Williams, and an and-one bucket and free throw from Gilgeous-Alexander brought the Thunder lead back up to 18.

With two minutes left in the half, Edwards drilled another mid-range shot and Kelly Oubre Jr. made three free throws. Just before the final buzzer sounded for the half, Gilgeous-Alexander added to his total with a slam dunk to end the half with the Thunder leading 58-43.

In the second half, Cason Wallace kicked things off for the Thunder with the first bucket and Gilgeous-Alexander added on with an easy layup. Oubre knocked down a floater for his first actual made shot of the game and Edwards drilled a long three-pointer. Both teams went back and forth, knocking down shots, with Wallace and Jalen Williams hitting threes for the Thunder, while Dowtin and Edwards answered back with triples of their own.

Down 78-64, Dowtin drilled another three-pointer but was answered by Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylin Williams. Council then scored five straight points, but two shots from Joe and Aaron Wiggins made it a 12-point game. With under a minute left in the quarter, Yabusele went on a huge solo run to get the 76ers back in the game. He drilled a long three, was then fouled hitting both free throws, scored a layup, and just before the buzzer sounded, tipped in another bucket for eight straight points for Philadelphia to make it 87-81 Oklahoma City.

With just 12 minutes left to play, the 76ers were slowly mounting a comeback. Wallace opened things up for the Thunder with back-to-back mid-range buckets, but three from Edwards and Gordon made it 91-87. However, after that bucket, the Thunder finally put their foot on the glass and pulled away from the 76ers.

Jalen Willaims knocked down a long three, Hartenstein followed up with a layup, and Jalen Willaims added on with another bucket. The points just kept on coming with Wallace making another wide-open layup, Gilgeous-Alexander drilling two free throws and Joe and Wallace nailing long threes to make it a 19-point game.

With under four minutes left to play, both teams began to empty their benches. Bona knocked down a pair of shots and Dowtin scored another bucket to add to his career-high. The Thunder then dribbled out the remainder of the clock to win 118-102.

---

Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order

Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO