The Sixers’ schedule for the next two weeks is about to get a whole lot tougher. It starts with Tuesday’s contest against the 32-6 Thunder, as Joel Embiid remains out.
With the Sixers still struggling, even at times their schedule has eased up lately, things are about to get even tougher.
On Tuesday, they’re up against the team that’s comfortably at the top of the Western Conference: the 32-6 Oklahoma City Thunder, who sit well ahead of second-place Houston at 25-12.
The Sixers are going to stay shorthanded for Tuesday’s contest. Joel Embiid (left foot sprain), Andre Drummond (left toe sprain), Kyle Lowry (right hip sprain), KJ Martin (left foot stress reaction), and of course Jared McCain (out for the season following his left meniscus surgery) remain out. Caleb Martin is questionable to return, so he may be able to provide some extra help against the Thunder’s bevy of wing talent.
The Thunder continue to have one key notable absence, as Chet Holmgren remains out with a right iliac wing fracture (a pelvic fracture). Not that it’s fazed their recent success much, though.
Alex Caruso, who has been out with a hip injury for the last 10 games, has been upgraded to available and could be ready to give the Thunder another boost.
The Thunder have been brilliant this season. After their recent 15-game win streak, lifting them to an absurd 20-2 in their last 22 games, they’ve only taken firmer command of the West over the last couple of months. As deep and dynamic as their sixth-ranked offense has been, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams (a new and worthy All-Star candidate), it’s the team’s league-best defense that has powered their success most this season.
With a defensive rating of 102.9, they’re miles ahead of second-place Orlando at 106.7. From the frontcourt of Isaiah Hartenstein and Holmgren, to guys like Caruso, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams and other role players on the bench covering the perimeter, OKC’s defense is a menace. They’re athletic, versatile and cohesive across the board, and force more turnovers than anyone. It’s going to be awfully hard for a Sixers’ offense that has faltered against weaker teams to get much going.
Hartenstein has given the Thunder a new dynamic this season, too, and has certainly helped their defense. He’s averaging 12.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and an impressive 4.3 assists per game, providing interior defense, top work on the glass, quality screening and rolling, and passing chops that can allow the team’s younger stars to work a bit more off the ball.
Hartenstein is a quality center in general, and someone with size and rebounding that’s going to be harder for the 6-foot-8 Guerschon Yabusele to keep up with.
Apart from all the offensive firepower OKC has, the clear size advantage over Yabusele with Embiid and Drummond out is yet another concern. As good as Yabusele as been, there’s only so much he can do against bigger centers with his 6-foot-8 frame, as we just saw against the Magic’s offensive rebounding.
That, plus all the weapons OKC has to attack the rim — from SGA’s elite driving to Williams’ explosive, versatile scoring — will give the Sixers’ smaller, shorthanded defense plenty of headaches.
Apart from Tyrese Maxey continuing to do all he can to lead the offense in Embiid’s absence, Paul George needs to have a top performance to make things at all competitive on Tuesday. George is coming off a better night against the Magic, though. He was efficient and in a better rhythm all over the floor, finishing with 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting and a 5-of-8 mark from three. He even grabbed a 10 rebounds to go along with six assists. The main problem was that he couldn’t close the game as he fouled out (again).
top of the PG. pic.twitter.com/U2PjazFEzl
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 13, 2025
Hopefully for the Sixers, George can build on the positive elements of Sunday’s game and have a hot night from three. Without that, and no Embiid return to provide offensive stability next to Maxey and much needed size and defense for this matchup, it’s hard to see the Sixers making this game that interesting.
Maybe the Sixers have a random surprise in store, but yeah… it’s safe to say that looks unlikely for Tuesday’s matchup. The Thunder have been one of the NBA’s top two teams all year and have only been getting better in the last two months. Their depth continues to shine as they’ve dealt with some injuries, too.
The Sixers are in for a tough ride, and it doesn’t stop on Tuesday. For their following five games, starting on Wednesday as they finish their current back-to-back, they’re up against the Knicks, Pacers, Bucks, Nuggets, then Cavaliers.
Let’s see if the Sixers can at least show some fight to begin this gruelling stretch with the right approach.
Game details
When: Tuesday, January 14, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers