The Oklahoma City Thunder (26-5) will host the Philadelphia 76ers (16-13) on Sunday, with both teams looking to snap their current two-game losing streaks. The Thunder have lost consecutive games to the Spurs, while the 76ers’ last two losses were to the Nets and Bulls. This will be the first head-to-head meeting of the season between these teams. The NBA season is ramping up and we know that you are going to love our free NBA picks.
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Terms & Conditions Is Philadelphia up for the challenge?
The 76ers are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference and have been stable on the road with a 7-5 record in those games. Tyrese Maxey has led the way with 30.8 points, seven assists, and 1.7 steals per game, and rookie VJ Edgecomb has been impressive with 15.8 ppg. Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul George have all also made strong contributions when on the floor, but each has missed more than half of the team’s games. Oubre and Embiid have both been ruled out of this game, and George is listed as a game-time decision.
From a team perspective, Philadelphia has been solid offensively but inefficient. The Sixers are averaging 116.1 points per game, which ranks 17th in the league, but their shooting numbers tell a tougher story. They rank 27th in field-goal percentage at 44.7%, relying heavily on perimeter shot-making and free throws to stay competitive. The good news is they convert at an elite 81.7% from the line, ranking fourth overall. Defensively, Philadelphia has held up reasonably well, ranking 13th in points allowed per game and sitting inside the top six in opponent field-goal and three-point percentage. Rebounding remains an issue, however, particularly on the defensive glass, where they rank 24th.
Thunder looking to bounce back
After getting off to a 24-1 start, Oklahoma City looked like a wall-to-wall shoe-in for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but four losses in their last six games, including three to the Spurs, have the Thunder only 2.5 games ahead of San Antonio in the conference. The Thunder now hosts Philadelphia and will also host the Hawks the very next night.
Even with the recent slip, Oklahoma City remains one of the most balanced teams in the NBA. The Thunder rank second in scoring at 121.9 points per game while shooting 49.3% from the floor, good for third in the league. Their offense is efficient at all three levels, including top-five marks in three-point percentage and free-throw shooting. Defensively, OKC has been even more impressive, allowing just 107.0 points per game, the best mark in the league, while holding opponents to a league-low 43.0% shooting. The Thunder also defends without fouling, ranking first in opponent free-throw percentage. While rebounding hasn’t been a major strength, it hasn’t been a liability either, as they sit squarely in the middle of the league.
76ers vs Thunder PredictionsPhiladelphia vs Oklahoma City Side Pick:
The Thunder come into this game as the healthier team, but this price is too high for me to back the favorite. Philadelphia may be coming off two bad losses, but I expect them to get up for this game in the spotlight against the top team in the NBA.
The Thunder have also shown some vulnerability recently against teams that force them into half-court possessions and slow the game down. The 76ers should be able to do just that, and even without Embiid and Oubre, Philadelphia still has enough scoring punch with Maxey and Edgecomb to hang around.
With OKC on the front end of a back-to-back, it may be wise for the Thunder to take their foot off the gas late if they have a big lead as well. I like Philadelphia.
Philadelphia vs Oklahoma City Total Pick:
This total feels a bit inflated given the circumstances. Philadelphia has leaned more defensively on the road, and its offensive efficiency takes a noticeable dip away from home. Without Embiid, the Sixers are also more reliant on jump shooting, which can lead to scoring droughts. Oklahoma City owns the league’s top scoring defense and is coming off games where their pace has slowed considerably. With both teams snapping two-game losing streaks as a priority, expect a more controlled tempo and a defensive-first approach, making the under the play.
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