The 76ers (20-14) will close their four-game holiday road trip with a New Year’s Eve meeting with the Oklahoma City Thunder (15-20).
Saturday’s matchup offers a speedy bounce-back opportunity for the Sixers, who fell at New Orleans, 127-116, Friday.
The Sixers shot well in the opener of its back-to-back, shooting 56.0% overall and 41.2% from long range - but struggled with turnovers (18), while CJ McCollum had a career night for New Orleans, finishing with 42 points and making a franchise-record 11 3-pointers.
Friday’s matchup also marked the on-court return of Tyrese Maxey, after missing nearly six weeks (left foot fracture). Maxey finished with nine points, a rebound, and an assist in his 19 minutes of play.
“It was fun being back out there with my teammates,” Maxey said postgame. “I felt good playing basketball. I love playing basketball.”
“It was great to be back out there, and it was great to have my teammates really try to help me get back in the flow. You have to lean on them when you come back.”
The Sixers’ visit to Oklahoma City marks the first of two meetings with the Thunder this season, the second to be played in South Philadelphia on Jan. 12.
The Thunder are 4-6 in their last 10, most recently falling to Charlotte Thursday, 121-113.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way in that matchup, finishing with 28 points, three rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Josh Giddey added a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double, plus three assists.
Former Sixer Isaiah Joe is averaging 6.4 points per game in 12.0 minutes per gamee in his 28 games with the Thunder thus far.
Gilgeous-Alexander is OKC’s leading scorer this season, averaging 31.4 points per game (4th in the NBA).
Joel Embiid continues to be the league’s overall scoring leader (33.8 ppg).
The Sixers will also have a quick opportunity to get even with New Orleans in their season series, hosting the Pelicans in Philadelphia Monday to open their 2023 slate.
Saturday’s matchup is an 8:00 p.m. ET tip.
Friday’s Key Performances:
Joel Embiid
James Harden
Tobias Harris
76ers vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Dec. 30, 2022
1 / 5NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 30: Shake Milton drives against Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on December 30, 2022.
@Sixers Social:
Quote to Note:
Tyrese Maxey on Joel Embiid’s assertion that Maxey is the Sixers’ “best player”:
“That’s Joel being extremely humble. That’s like - the best player in the world.”
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