Thunder Gameday: Oklahoma City Continues Road Stretch Versus Philadelphia
The Thunder's second stop on a five-game road stretch sees them matched up versus the 76ers.
The Oklahoma City Thunder come into Tuesday night's game off a narrow, electrifying win over the New York Knicks on Sunday evening.
Turning to his right shoulder with a defender draped over him, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sank a stone-cold game-winner to hand the Thunder a one-point victory inside Madison Square Garden to improve to 52 wins.
Now, with four road games remaining and eight in totality, Oklahoma City holds sole possession with a half-game advantage as the top seed in the West. They'll look to hold onto that feat while Gilgeous-Alexander continues to steadily recover from a lingering quad issue.
ODDS:
The Thunder enter the day as 5.5-point favorites against the 76ers, and the total over/under is 225.5 points.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
It was the 76ers who claimed the last meeting of the two inside Paycom Center, 127-123.
A 35-point performance from Joel Embiid paired with Tyrese Maxey's 28 was too much for the combined 64 points from Chet Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander.
It was the rebounding that did them in. 49-38 in that department, the Thunder were outclassed and their primary issue was glaring in that matchup, as the 76ers' starting lineup combined for 38 boards. On Tuesday night, Holmgren will have to sacrifice his body and put up a great effort in that aspect.
in that Thunder loss, Jalen Williams was absent, and Cason Wallace received the start. He'd put up a zero in the scoring column. Even with the expertise he brings on the defensive side of the floor, losing Williams' 19.5 points per game was sure enough to give Philadelphia the edge.
That'll be another question on Tuesday, as Williams is listed as a game-time decision with a left ankle sprain. Gilgeous-Alexander will also have a question mark by his name tonight due to that quad hindrance.
RECORDS:
Oklahoma City Thunder (52-22) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (40-35)
INJURIES:
Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 6:30 PM CT
LOCATION:
Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA
TV/RADIO:
Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start Your Free Trial)
FINAL WORD:
Oklahoma City would love to close this season series out in a tie. 2-5 in their last seven, the Thunder have a chance to catch a lagging 76ers team, but might have to do so without two of their star guards.
Next, the Thunder head to Boston to take on the Celtics at 6:30 on Wednesday to cap off a back-to-back.
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