Philadelphia, Dec 28, 2025 — The Philadelphia 76ers are walking into one of the most challenging matchups of their season as they continue their road trip Sunday afternoon against the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Philadelphia arrives in Oklahoma City struggling to regain momentum after two difficult losses. The Sixers were outplayed at home by the Brooklyn Nets before suffering a heartbreaking late-game collapse against the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately for Nick Nurse’s squad, there will be no easing back into form — their next stop is against the league’s most dominant team.
Thunder Rolling Despite Rare Setback
Oklahoma City enters the matchup with an NBA-best 26–5 record. Although the Thunder recently dropped back-to-back games to the San Antonio Spurs — including a loss in the NBA Cup semifinal — the defeats appear to have only sharpened their focus. With championship expectations still firmly intact, the Thunder have emphasized returning to last season’s high-intensity style of play.
This is hardly the type of opponent a struggling team hopes to face.
Embiid Out, Bench Depth Under Pressure
The challenge grows steeper for Philadelphia as superstar center Joel Embiid has been ruled out due to a right ankle sprain and ongoing knee management. His absence places added responsibility on a bench unit that was badly outscored 59–12 by Chicago in the previous game.
Offensive production has been particularly hard to come by against Oklahoma City this season. The Thunder own the best defensive rating in the NBA at 104.6, creating major scoring challenges for opponents.
The Sixers will need Tyrese Maxey to rediscover his All-NBA scoring form after a pair of inefficient shooting nights. Additional scoring support is also needed from Quentin Grimes and rookie Jared McCain, who have both struggled from the field in recent outings.
Shai Leads Deep Thunder Roster
On the other end of the floor, Oklahoma City features one of the league’s most balanced and dangerous rosters. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to build an MVP-caliber season, averaging 32.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren provide elite secondary scoring, while Ajay Mitchell has emerged as a key contributor off the bench and is now being mentioned in Sixth Man of the Year conversations.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe recently impressed with his defense on Jalen Brunson, and his matchup against Gilgeous-Alexander will be one to watch as Philadelphia looks for ways to slow the Thunder’s star guard.
Heavy Underdogs, But Still Hopeful
According to FanDuel, Oklahoma City is favored by 15.5 points. While expectations are clearly stacked against Philadelphia, the Sixers have shown a tendency to keep games close — often finding themselves battling until the final minute.
Whether that pattern continues against the NBA’s most complete team will be revealed Sunday afternoon.
Game Information
Date: Sunday, December 28
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
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