At a Glance
- Thunder win 129-104 in Oklahoma City.
- Tyrese Maxey scores 28 points, five assists.
- Chet Holmgren tops 29, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 27.
- Why it matters: Sixers miss key players and face next road test in Memphis.
The Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Philadelphia 76ers 129-104 in a Sunday afternoon clash at the Paycom Center, extending the Thunder’s winning streak to 27-5 while the Sixers slipped to 16-14. With Tyrese Maxey leading the way and key Sixers absent, the loss signals a tough road trip ahead.
Thunder’s Early Fireworks
The Thunder opened the game with an explosive first quarter, converting their first nine shots and outscoring Philadelphia 25-24 before the Sixers’ Quentin Grimes pulled a late three to take a narrow lead. Jalen Williams sliced past Paul George on a back-door cut, while Chet Holmgren dominated the paint with two post scores and a fast-break dunk.
- First nine field goals for Oklahoma City.
- Quentin Grimes three gave Sixers first lead.
- Jalen Williams back-door cut over Paul George.
Maxey’s Half-Time Dominance
In the first half, Tyrese Maxey was on fire, hitting 6-for-6 from the floor and accounting for 15 of Philadelphia’s 29 points before the break. He missed only two shots in the first half, but his 23-point burst left the Thunder staring at a 29-29 tie at halftime.
- 28 points total, 5 assists.
- 6-for-6 shooting first half.
- 15 of 29 points in opening period.
Second-Half Collapse and Defensive Struggles
The Thunder’s defense tightened after halftime, but the Sixers’ offense stalled. Maxey scored only a technical free throw in the fourth, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander capped an 11-0 run to push the lead to 86-73. Oklahoma City’s zone defense was ineffective, and the Thunder’s third-quarter offense exploded, outscoring Philadelphia by 14 points.
- Edgecombe 10 points on 3-for-16.
- George 12 points on 4-for-11.
- Thunder’s third-quarter net rating minus-21.4.
| Player | Points | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Chet Holmgren | 29 | Thunder |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 27 | Thunder |
| Tyrese Maxey | 28 | Sixers |
Key Takeaways
- Thunder extend streak to 27-5 after a dominant 129-104 win.
- Tyrese Maxey leads the Sixers with 28 points, but the team struggles without Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Trendon Watford.
- Oklahoma City’s third-quarter offense proves decisive, and the Sixers face a critical road test in Memphis.
With key players sidelined, the Sixers will need to regroup before heading to Memphis, where they’ll face the Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
