Philadelphia returned to victory after conceding two losses, against Cleveland and Minnesota. Serious to the end against a Thunder team that didn’t give up, Nick Nurse’s men were able to find the right balance with a high-performance collective to support the Maxey-Embiid duo, still above the rest last night.
The Thunder, however, displayed great resistance at each important moment before finally cracking at the very end of the game. There was notably a great reaction at the end of the first quarter after a difficult start (5-16). This resulted in a 15-1 fueled by 3-pointers from Jaylin Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe (31-27).
Tyrese Maxey raised his level of play, Philly responded thanks to the outside skill of the Melton-Harris-Batum trio, to allow the Sixers to have a four-point lead at the break (61-65). But here again, OKC was able to respond, this time relying on a flamboyant Chet Holmgren (12 points in less than five minutes), to regain the advantage after returning from the locker room, up +4 on a dunk in transition from Thunder rookie. (75-71).
Once again, it was the Maxey-Embiid tandem that put the Sixers back on the right path, until 3-pointers from Nicolas Batum and Tobias Harris in quick succession suddenly increased the gap (80 -88). At +13 at the very end of the third quarter after another basket from Joel Embiid (80-93), the Sixers seemed to have this match well in hand, but they ultimately suffered until the end against a gripping Thunder team .
Slowly but surely, OKC caught up, with Kenrich Williams, Luguentz Dort, Davis Bertans and Isaiah Joe to artillery from afar, and a valuable SGA to get closer to -4 almost 90 seconds from the end (110- 114). Under pressure, it was finally De’Anthony Melton, with a 3-point catch-and-shoot, who freed his team.
After a 3-pointer from 9 meters from Chet Holmgren to return to -2 at the very end of the game (123-121), Joel Embiid was forced to make the free throw four times to validate Philadelphia’s victory, 127 at 123.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Chet Holmgren’s big match. He embodied this spirit of resistance of the Thunder which continued to attack this Philadelphia team until pushing it to its limits. Building on his good start to the match where he was able to torture the circle, he was notably the author of an impressive performance at the start of the third quarter with his 12 points scored in less than five minutes, including two baskets 3-pointer and an authoritarian dunk on the counterattack. We will also remember his 3-pointer from very far away at the very end of the match on the head of Joel Embiid. Chet Holmgren has just had a second game with more than 30 points in the space of a week, each time with very good shooting percentages.
– The composure of Joel Embiid. The pivot was manhandled throughout the match and notably twisted his left ankle in the third quarter then hurt himself again at the very end of the game. But the rock of the Sixers held firm. And when it was necessary to score the last four throws of the victory to extinguish the enthusiasm of the crowd, he did not tremble. 35 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists at the finish for the reigning MVP.
– French corner. Nicolas Batum undoubtedly delivered his best game under his new colors, shining in what he does best. In his role as a handyman, he finished with 14 points on 4/7 shooting (3/6 at 3-points), 7 rebounds including 4 offensive, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Like De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, or Robert Covington, the Frenchman will have been an important “role player” in Nick Nurse’s system.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
