Game preview: OKC Thunder look to get back in win column vs. Embiid-less 76ers

Ben Simmons, Russell Westbrook, OKC Thunder (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ben Simmons, Russell Westbrook, OKC Thunder (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder, Russell Westbrook (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Predicted Line-ups

OKC Thunder Starters:

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
Shooting Guard: Terrance Ferguson
Small Forward: Paul George
Power Forward: Jerami Grant
Center:  Steven Adams

OKC Thunder Bench

Point Guard: Dennis Schroder, Raymond Felton
Shooting Guard: Hamidou DialloDeonte Burton
Small Forward: Abdel Nader
Power Forward: Markieef MorrisPatrick Patterson
Center: Nerlens Noel

Injury Notes:

  • Andre Roberson: (knee) remains out rehabbing with no definitive return date listed.

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Philadelphia 76ers Starters:

Point Guard: Ben Simmons
Shooting Guard: J.J Redick
Small ForwardJimmy Butler
Small/Power Forward: Tobias Harris
Center: Jonah Bolden

Philadelphia 76ers Bench:

Point Guard: T.J. McConnell,
Shooting Guard:
Small Forward: James Ennis, Jonathon Simmons
Power Forward: Mike Scott
Center: Amir Johnson,

Injury Notes:

  •  Joel Embiid is definitely out dealing with soreness in his left knee
  • Boban Marjanovic (knee) Embiid’s back up got injured versus the Pelicans. The team cited a bone bruise and mild right knee sprain with no structural damage. Still, he’ll be out of the lineup for up to a week.
  • Furkan Korkmaz underwent surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus. He’s expected out for a month with projections of a return in date in late March.
  • Justin Patton (right foot surgery) the sophomore has been riddled with repeated foot surgeries and is out indefinitely.
  • Zhaire Smith (Jones fracture, left foot) the oddity with the rookie Smith is he was already out with the Jones fracture and then ate some nut product he is highly allergic to. This led to a “thoracoscopy” (from what I can decipher a surgery to repair the ailment. He also underwent a thoracoscopy to fix an allergic reaction from a food product and there is no timetable for return.

Game Specifics

The Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Tipoff:  8:00 PM ET, (7:00 PM CT) Thursday, February 28, 2019

TV: FS Oklahoma, TNT

Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC

History:

As previously highlighted the Thunder have a 19 game win streak on the line and boast a 19-1 record all-time.

Odds:

The oddsmakers give the Thunder an eight-point edge and set the over/under at 240 points. Join us after the game for postgame grades, and remember to bookmark Thunder Intentions so you don’t miss all the great material on the OKC Thunder.

Stats per NBA.com/Stats and Basketball-reference.com