OKLAHOMA CITY — 19 seconds into the game, Joel Embiid hit on an assisted layup to give the Sixers the quick 2-0 lead.
The Philadelphia 76ers were able to hold onto that lead for the remaining 47.5 minutes.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were not able to close out 2022 with a win as they lost their annual New Year’s Eve home game, 115-96, to the Sixers.
With a tall lineup headlined by the seven-foot Embiid, the Sixers were able to take advantage of their size and outscored the Thunder 66-42 inside the paint.
This will become a recurring issue for the Thunder for the foreseeable future with the number of injuries they’re currently dealing with in the frontcourt. This issue was magnified by playing against a top-two center on Saturday.
For the Sixers, it was a well-balanced offensive outing with seven of their 11 players scoring at least eight points. This included four of their five starters.
Joel Embiid led the way with a triple double of 16 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Tobias Harris contributed with 23 points and nine rebounds.
With James Harden and Tyrese Maxey out, the Milton-Melton backcourt seamlessly stepped into their absence. Shake Milton stepped up in his absence with 18 points and five assists. De’Anthony Melton finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
For the Thunder, it was a tough offensive showing as they shot 35-of-92 (38%) from the field. This included going 12-of-36 (33.3%) from outside. The Thunder only had four players score 10+ points.
While the Thunder chipped away at the Sixers’ massive lead in the second half, they never really found their groove offensively as they scored just 72 points at the end of the third quarter.
The Thunder have done a good job at avoiding these type of blowout losses this season, it just wasn’t their night on either end of the floor on Saturday as the calendar flips to 2023.
Let’s take a look at Thunder player grades.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: C-
In his second consecutive game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was unusually quiet for his standards — and arguably had his worst showing of the season.
After scoring 28 points on 23 shots, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a season-low 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting, five assists and six rebounds.
The 92 percent free-throw shooter going 5-of-8 from the free-throw line this game displayed the type of night the Thunder had.
Gilgeous-Alexander did not enjoy the success he’s grown accustom to inside the paint against the Sixers as he shot 3-of-9 near the rim. With that said, he did have the highlight of the night for the Thunder with a mundane two-handed dunk:
Momentum driving downhill! 🔨 pic.twitter.com/lL3N1ngDIa
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 1, 2023
Shai stays on spin cycle. 🌪
Thunder next is now.
Vote Shai: https://t.co/2FFNkzy5oU pic.twitter.com/U7YRlrgFvk
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 1, 2023
Shai with the wide-open 👌
There's a new option to watch the Thunder. Learn More: https://t.co/YioxgSU4nH@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/xqj4YUDHAQ
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) January 1, 2023
Josh Giddey: B-
Josh Giddey was able to strengthen his strong December with 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting and nine rebounds against the Sixers.
After a slow start to his season, Giddey turned in his best month of the year by averaging 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 12 December games.
Before the game, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers was very complimentary towards Giddey and compared his vision to Jason Williams.
Rivers, the veteran player and head coach, also mentioned how Giddey playing in Summer League despite his stature is also very telling of the type of person he is.
“There are a lot of guys sitting in street clothes who hadn’t had the season he had and I thought that spoke volumes that he wanted to play,” said Rivers.
When asked about Rivers’ comments after the game, Giddey said it’s always awesome to hear NBA legends like him talk so highly about himself.
Giddey also revealed a funny anecdote where he said he essentially begged Thunder GM Sam Presti to allow him to play in more Las Vegas Summer League games.
Giddey with the early going! pic.twitter.com/4LqS0R0LZ5
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 1, 2023
Lu Dort: C+
After scoring 22 points and hitting on five threes against the Charlotte Hornets, Lu Dort’s shot did not fall the same way against the Sixers.
Dort finished with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting that included going 1-of-5 from three.
Williams with the steal, Dort makes it count 🔥@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/FCparW1iUf
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) January 1, 2023
