The Sixers return home Monday night, after a successful road trip out west, taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the return of Jared McCain. Philadelphia drafted McCain 16th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, and for a time, he looked like a fixture of the team's future before being surprisingly traded at this year's deadline.
Winners of two straight, the Sixers are hoping to focus on the game ahead as they continue to climb the Eastern Conference standings. VJ Edgecombe has been on fire of late in the absence of every other star on the team, while the Thunder, the league's top team and defending champions, have won 11 straight games as they prepare to defend their title.
Who: Oklahoma City Thunder (56-15) at Philadelphia 76ers (39-32)
When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: XFinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBA League Pass, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest
The Sixers are returning home more shorthanded than when they left for the West Coast, as Dominick Barlow injured his ankle in the opening moments of the team's 126-116 win over the Jazz on Saturday night. With Barlow listed as doubtful and the team still missing Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul George, they'll have even more problems dealing with a Thunder team that's been rolling all season.
While Justin Edwards had a down game for the first time in a while, against the Jazz, rookie VJ Edgecombe continues to play well, even when he's not shooting well. Despite shooting just 9-19 from the field, Edgecombe finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, continuing to build upon a strong rookie season.
The Sixers will need to be perfect if they're going to have a chance against the Thunder, with Quentin Grimes, Trendon Watford, Cam Payne, and Adem Bona all needing to step up and contribute despite the odds. Poor shooting would have doomed the team, but luckily, they were playing the Jazz and finished their road trip on a high note.
The Thunder are in Philadelphia on the heels of a 132-111 drubbing of the Washington Wizards on Saturday in which superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points in just 32 minutes as the team spread the minutes out against one of the league's worst teams.
The Thunder haven't lost in 11 games, dating back to a 124-116 loss to the Pistons on Feb. 25. While they've had a couple of wins over teams like the Nets and Wizards, they've also knocked off the Nuggets, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Celtics during that period. The defending champions have not let up all season and continue to run through competition.
Also, Jared McCain is averaging 19 minutes per game over 19 Thunder games, shooting 44 percent on three-point attempts and scoring just 12.3 points per game. Big deal.
The VJ Edgecombe highlights will be there, despite the Thunder focusing the bulk of their defensive attention on the rookie. It will not be easy for the rookie with just 64 games in the league under his belt, but he's not shied away from a challenge all season, and tonight won't be any different.
For the game, watch the Thunder and see exactly what the "Process" Sixers were supposed to be before the NBA intervened and stopped what should've been. The Thunder, still holding multiple picks, multiple talented young players, veteran leadership, and already a championship under its belt, represents all that the Sixers and their fans had dreamed of back in 2014.
While the Sixers await the return of their stars, with Paul George expected back for the team's Wednesday night matchup against the Chicago Bulls after completing his suspension. The team needs to keep its head above water for a few more days and hope that its return to health will carry it further into the playoffs. With the big guns returning, fifth place in the conference is only a half-game away, and the team could get lucky at the right time.
Thunder 132 - Sixers 95
