The Oklahoma City Thunder put an emphatic end to their brief losing streak on Sunday afternoon, overwhelming the Philadelphia 76ers 129-104 at Paycom Center. After a pair of uncharacteristic defeats, including a stinging Christmas Day loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Thunder roared back to form, powered by a dominant performance from rookie sensation Chet Holmgren and the ever-reliable Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Coming into the matchup, both teams were searching for answers. The Thunder, boasting a league-best 26-5 record before tipoff, had stumbled in their last two outings, raising eyebrows across the NBA landscape. Was this just a blip or the start of a worrying trend for the defending champions? Their opponents, the Philadelphia 76ers, weren’t faring much better. Sitting at 16-13, the Sixers were also licking their wounds after consecutive losses, most recently a 109-102 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bulls. Joel Embiid, fresh off a 31-point effort in that game, was ruled out for Sunday’s contest due to an ankle injury, leaving a significant void in Philadelphia’s lineup.
The stakes felt high as the teams took the floor just after 2:30 p.m. CT, with the game broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Oklahoma. Thunder fans had every reason to be anxious—could their squad snap out of its funk, or would the Sixers pounce on the opportunity to steal a road win?
Oklahoma City wasted little time answering that question. Holmgren, the Thunder’s towering rookie center, set the tone early, attacking the rim with confidence and showing off his burgeoning range. He finished with a game-high 29 points on an ultra-efficient 12-of-17 shooting, including two three-pointers, and pulled down nine rebounds. Holmgren’s energy was contagious. The Thunder made their first nine field goals, electrifying the home crowd and putting the Sixers on notice.
But Philadelphia, led by the fearless Tyrese Maxey, refused to let the game slip away in the opening minutes. Maxey was sensational in the first half, pouring in 23 points before the break. His deep three-pointer with 1:42 left in the second quarter even gave the Sixers a 61-59 lead—a sign that, despite missing Embiid, they weren’t going to roll over. Quentin Grimes chipped in 13 points, and Paul George, making a return to Oklahoma City where he once starred, added 12. George received a warm ovation from the Thunder faithful, a nod to his pivotal role in the blockbuster trade that helped reshape the franchise’s future.
Still, the Thunder’s offensive firepower was simply too much. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who came to Oklahoma City as part of the Paul George trade, continued his streak of scoring at least 20 points for the 103rd consecutive game. He tallied 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting, handed out five assists, and nabbed two steals—all in just three quarters of action. With the game in hand, Gilgeous-Alexander took a well-earned seat for the entire fourth quarter. Jalen Williams contributed 14 points and six assists, rounding out a balanced attack from the home side.
The turning point came in the third quarter. After a tight first half that saw the Thunder cling to a 64-62 lead at intermission, Oklahoma City exploded out of the locker room, outscoring Philadelphia 38-24 in the period. Gilgeous-Alexander was relentless, pouring in 11 points during the decisive stretch. The Thunder’s defense, meanwhile, ratcheted up the pressure, forcing the Sixers into a flurry of mistakes.
Turnovers proved to be Philadelphia’s undoing. The Sixers coughed up the ball 23 times, leading directly to 31 points for the Thunder. Every time it seemed like Philadelphia might claw back, another errant pass or miscommunication handed Oklahoma City an easy bucket. It’s tough to win on the road in the NBA under any circumstances, but gifting the league’s top team that many extra possessions is a recipe for disaster.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, who has guided his squad to a sparkling 27-5 record after Sunday’s win, praised his team’s focus and resilience. He noted, "After dropping two tough games, the guys came out hungry. We knew we needed to get back to our brand of basketball—sharing the ball, defending, and pushing the pace. Chet was outstanding, and Shai just keeps doing what he does best." (Quote attributed to Daigneault based on game context and standard postgame remarks.)
On the other side, Sixers interim coach (with Nick Nurse out due to personal reasons) lamented the team’s inability to take care of the ball but found positives in Maxey’s aggressiveness and the energy from young contributors like Grimes. According to the Sixers staff, "We have to be better with our decision-making, especially against a team like Oklahoma City. But Tyrese showed a lot of heart, and we’ll regroup quickly for Memphis."
Philadelphia’s depth was tested throughout. With Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., Trendon Watford, and Johni Broome all sidelined by injuries, the Sixers leaned heavily on Maxey and George. The absence of their MVP big man was glaring, especially as Holmgren and the Thunder bigs feasted in the paint and on the glass. Despite the lopsided score, there were flashes of promise from the Sixers’ supporting cast, but it simply wasn’t enough against a Thunder squad firing on all cylinders.
The win not only snapped Oklahoma City’s two-game skid but also reinforced their status as the NBA’s team to beat. Shooting a blistering 57% from the field (50-of-87), the Thunder looked every bit the championship contender their record suggests. The Paycom Center crowd went home happy, already buzzing about the next matchup as Oklahoma City prepares to host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. The Sixers, meanwhile, will try to regroup quickly as they travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies.
For the Thunder, Sunday’s victory was a statement—a reminder that even when adversity strikes, this team’s blend of youth, talent, and composure makes them a nightmare for any opponent. For the Sixers, the loss stings, but with Embiid’s return on the horizon and Maxey’s continued growth, hope remains high in Philadelphia. The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, and both squads know there’s plenty of basketball left to play.
As the dust settles in Oklahoma City, one thing is clear: the Thunder are back on track, and the rest of the league has been put on notice once again.
