OKC Thunder seek to end 13-game losing streak in Philly

The OKC Thunder enter week 19 of the season on a 13-game losing streak. This week there are four games on tap. They’ll start with a back-to-back set on the road to play the 76ers and the Celtics. Back home they’ll play a four-game homestand featuring two games this week (Pelicans and Pacers).

It’s been a tough slog of late for the Thunder as the team mandate remains to pile up losses to improve their draft position. Although the strategy is understandable losing isn’t fun and repeatedly getting blown out definitely isn’t enjoyable.

With only 12 games remaining the question is whether OKC will attempt to win any games or go for broke by losing them all.

OKC Thunder versus Philadelphia 76ers – one team will end losing streak

A franchise record could be broken this week — and not a good one. The longest losing streak in franchise history was 14 games occurring in the debut season. If OKC loses tonight and tomorrow they’ll have set a new record.

The 76ers spent the majority of this season atop the Eastern Conference but a recent four-game losing streak allowed the Brooklyn Nets to move to the top of the ladder. Last week the Bucks took consecutive games against Philly who were without Ben Simmons and other core members. The resulting effect is Philly now trails the Nets by 1.5 games and their lead over the Bucks has narrowed to 2.0 games.

Typically this time of year finds clubs looking to build momentum heading into the postseason or improve their seeding. Maintaining player health and having players rested is equally important so top teams often stagger resting their stars. Albeit, the uncertainty of the pandemic and the play-in tournament has shifted the strategy of how teams are approaching the stretch run.

With that, it’s interesting the 76ers could play without the services of Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Ben Simmons this evening. At season start analysts assumed the OKC Thunder would be the opponent to gain an automatic victory against. That didn’t prove true, however, down the stretch it’s closer to being accurate.

Game specifics:

Records:

• Thunder: 20-40
• 76ers: 39-21

The Venue:  Chesapeake Energy Arena

Tipoff:  7:00 PM ET  | 6:00 PM CT

TV: Fox Sports  Oklahoma | NBA League Pass

Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM OKC

Injuries:

The NBA injury report lists several players for each club although the 76ers are stating some as questionable so they might play or they could tip off missing their top three players.

OKC Thunder:

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• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss his 17th consecutive game with plantar fasciitis

Al Horford has been shut down for the season.

Mike Muscala out with an ankle injury.

Josh Hall is out with knee soreness.

76ers:

• Joel Embiid is dealing with right shoulder soreness that kept him out Saturday and may sideline him again.
• Tobias Harris – the NBA Report suggests Harris will be rested for injury management. A bit of an odd choice if both Embiid and Simmons are out.
• Furkan Korkmaz (ankle) is questionable.
• Paul Reed (health and safety protocols) are all questionable.
• Ben Simmons (illness) is out.

History:

This is the second and final meeting between the 76ers and Thunder this season. The initial meeting occurred on April 10th with Philly winning 117-93.

All-time the Thunder and 76ers have played each other 138 times in the regular season. OKC holds the advantage in these meetings with 71 wins versus the 76ers’ 67 victories. Last season the teams played twice with both winning once.