Sixers tied for NBA’s fifth-worst record after a loss to the Thunder
With 13 games remaining, the Sixers are again tied with the Nets in a race to the bottom to increase their chances of keeping their first-round pick.
OKLAHOMA CITY — If you have studied the 76ers’ recent lineups and talent level, there’s only one conclusion you can possibly make: They transformed themselves into a team built to lose.
And that’s exactly what happened Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The makeshift Sixers were dominated from the start in a 133-100 loss at the Paycom Center. The Thunder scored the game’s first 10 points and had a 41-point cushion in the fourth quarter.
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“This group hasn’t come out really ready to go,” coach Nick Nurse said. “And tonight it looked like they were just a step slow from the beginning.”
The Sixers did claw back and pull within six points with 2 minutes, 59 seconds left in the first half. But the Thunder ended the half on a 13-5 run before breaking the game wide open in the third quarter.
“Playing catch up the whole game kind of makes it tough for us on the offensive end, wanting to always make shots,” Quentin Grimes said. “And then they shoot a lot of threes [and] they were making them tonight [going 24-for-52]. They are one of the best teams in the league for a reason even without their main guys. Credit to them. They played great.”
The tank-friendly loss dropped the Sixers to 23-46 and, once again, into a tie with the Brooklyn Nets for the NBA’s fifth-worst record with 13 games remaining. The Thunder, meanwhile, improved to 57-12 and clinched the Northwest Division title.
The Sixers ironically faced the team that’s a major reason behind their tanking. Oklahoma City will receive the Sixers’ first-round pick in June’s NBA draft if it doesn’t fall within the top six spots in May’s draft lottery.
Should the Sixers finish with the fifth-worst record, they will have a 64% chance of keeping that pick. Finishing among the bottom four teams will only increase their odds.
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So the championship-or-bust squad from several months ago is in an all-out tank-mode. And that was made obvious by glimpsing at their injury report.
Tyrese Maxey (back and finger sprain), Andre Drummond (left toe sprain), Kyle Lowry (right hip injury management), Kelly Oubre Jr. (right knee sprain), and Lonnie Walker IV (concussion) remained sidelined.
Walker, who’s in concussion protocol, participated in Wednesday morning’s shootaround and could return as early as Friday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
Sources have said that Maxey wants to return to play at some point during the final three games of this six-contest road trip. The team, however, wants to be careful with him.
“He did work out today,” Nurse said. “We’re still looking to get him back on the trip. I don’t know what the possibilities are percentage-wise on that. But he did [work out]. I think Lonnie will get through the protocol next game, as well. So we will see if we can get some guys back.”
Joel Embiid (left knee injury management), Paul George (left groin injury recovery), Jared McCain (left knee meniscus surgery), and Eric Gordon (right wrist surgery) are all shut down for the remainder of the season.
So this was, once again, a Grimes showcase game. The combo guard finished with 28 points on 10-for-21 shooting after averaging 32.6 points in his previous five games.
Justin Edwards added 19 points while 10-day player Chuma Okeke had 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Grimes and Edwards were joined in the starting lineup by Guerschon Yabusele, Jared Butler, and Oshae Brissett, who is on a 10-day contract. Ricky Council IV, Okeke, and two-way players Alex Reese and Jalen Hood-Schifino were the other available players. Jeff Dowtin Jr., another two-way player, was inactive due to having a limited amount of allowable NBA games remaining.
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But the Thunder were without eight players, including starters Lu Dort (right hip soreness), Isaiah Hartenstein (lower back spasms) and All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rest) and Jalen Williams (right hip strain).
Aaron Wiggins paced the Thunder with 26 points. Jaylin Williams had a triple-double with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. Former Sixer Isaiah Joe added 21 points while making five three-pointers.
Up next
The Sixers traveled to San Antonio following Wednesday’s game. They’ll have an optional practice on Thursday before facing the Spurs (28-39) at 8 p.m. Friday.