The Oklahoma City Thunder embark on a two-game road swing with their first game coming at the Wells Fargo Center as the Philadelphia 76ers await. Oklahoma City has dropped five of its last six, including its last two in a row, while Philadelphia is trending up on a three-game winning streak. Due to the recent play by both teams the 76ers a 2-point favorite with the total Sportsbook at 235 points.
- Oklahoma City is 1-5 SU and ATS in its last six games.
- Philadelphia is 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS in its last nine games.
- The total has gone OVER in each of Oklahoma City’s last five games.
Oklahoma City vs Philadelphia Game Center
Where has the Defense gone for the Thunder?
Oklahoma City has been on a bit of a tailspin recently after claiming victory in eight of 11 games, it has dropped five of its last six, including an ongoing two-game losing slide. This is the worst stretch for the Thunder since it opened the season with four straight losses. Travel may be the root of the problem as it has gone from home to away in six straight games, never doubling up.
The offense hasn’t been much of an issue for the Thunder recently, as they are averaging the sixth-most points per game over their last 15 matches, scoring 117.3 ppg, led by small forward Paul George. The five-time all-star is having a career year with 26.6 points per game and has scored the team-high in 10 of the last 15 games, the only other player to score the team-high being Russell Westbrook. Additionally, they are leading the association with 96.5 shot attempts per game, as well as the highest pace of play.
The major area for concern has been keeping points off the board as Oklahoma City has surrendered the fifth-most points per game in its last 15 games and that has only risen over its recent rough patch. Over the Thunder’s last six matches in which they went 1-5 SU, they have given up an average of 130.2 points per game, by far the most points allowed over that span.
Teams are shooting really well against them in the six contests, hitting 50.1 percent of their shots from the floor, including 43.1 percent from beyond the arc. Most notably, they are surrendering the second-most shot attempts over that span and are allowing the fourth-most offensive boards.
76ers are really clicking recently
Unlike Oklahoma City, which is on one of its worst stretches this season, Philadelphia is on one of its best. The 76ers enter this game having won seven of their last nine and three in a row overall topped off with an impressive 120-96 triumph at Indiana on Thursday. Today’s game is the beginning of a three-game homestand, the longest such since it played three in a row at home in mid-December.
Philadelphia has been lighting up the scoreboard frequently over its last 15 games, scoring an average of 117.9 points per game, ranking fourth in the NBA. It has been capitalizing on its opportunities by shooting 48.7 percent from the floor which is tied for the fourth-best percentage in the league over that span but is taking just 87.7 shots per game which ranks 18th. Additionally, the 76ers have had the third-highest pace of play over their last 15 games, but they have averaged 15.7 turnovers per game and that has led the few shots per game.
On the defensive side of the ball, they have been just OK, surrendering 112.6 points per game over their last 15 games, ranking in a tie for 17th in the association. One of the weakest areas was already mentioned and that was their turnovers as opponents are scoring 17.3 points off turnovers per game which is the ninth-most in the NBA. However, they have done a great job limiting second-chance opportunities with their foes scoring just 11.5 points per game on second chances and are grabbing just 9.5 offensive boards per game which are the fifth-fewest.
OVER trending for today’s game
Philadelphia and Oklahoma City both rank in the top five in points scored per game over their last 15 and Sportsbook has the total Sportsbook at 235 points. The Thunder have been on an OVER streak with each of their last five games going OVER with an average combined score of 261 with the lowest score being 234 points.
Meanwhile, the 76ers have gone OVER in four of their last six games, three of which going OVER today’s total of 235 points. Lastly, OKC's opponents are hitting 50.1 percent of their shots over the last six games and the 76ers have the second-best shooting percentage in the league over that span at 51.6.
My take on Oklahoma City vs Philadelphia
I like Philadelphia -2 if Joel Embiid plays, he listed at the time of this article. Oklahoma City needs a way to stop the bleeding and I don’t think it can do that against a Philadelphia team that is peaking. The Thunder have been absolutely horrendous on defense recently allowing their opponents to shoot 50.1 percent from the floor and surrendering 130.2 points per game in their last six.
Meanwhile, the 76ers have scored the fourth-most points per game over their last 15 at 117.9 and are shooting 51.6 percent in their last six. Lastly, the Thunder are 1-5 SU and ATS in their last six, while the 76ers are 7-2 SU and 5-4 ATS with an average winning margin of 14.86 winning no game by fewer than three points.
