Game ID: 22301093
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Philadelphia 76ers
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHI 25 19 29 36 109OKC 22 32 26 25 105
OKC @ PHI ScoutingOKC @ PHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHI availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Embiid missed 25 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 13 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 39 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 39 min since (116% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 24 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 26 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 14 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 40 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 35 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/20 after 3, 12 min since (102% of 12)
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 27 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 15 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 41 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 36 min since (105% of 34)
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Martin 12 to 18 min over the last 4
PHI availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 28 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 16 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 42 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Martin missed 2 since 3/27, returns tonight: 10 min (84% of 12)
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 3 since 3/25, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 12)
BACK Harris back 3/22 after 3, 35 min since (104% of 34)
NEW Bamba 13 to 21 min over the last 5
PHI availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Embiid missed 29 since 2/01, returns tonight: 29 min (85% of 35)
OUT Melton missed 17 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 43 since 1/02, out tonight
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 10 min since (84% of 12)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/31 after 3, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHI availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Maxey missed 2 since 3/31, returns tonight: 41 min (109% of 38)
OUT Melton missed 18 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Covington missed 44 since 1/02, not on tonight's roster
BACK Embiid back 4/02 after 29, 29 min since (85% of 35)
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 11 min since (90% of 12)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/31 after 3, 5 min since (41% of 12)
PHI availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Melton missed 19 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Dowtin Jr. missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 14 min (121% of 12)
BACK Maxey back 4/04 after 2, 41 min since (109% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 4/02 after 29, 31 min since (90% of 35)
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 14 min since (118% of 12)
PHI availability going into 4/07 · back-to-backOUT Harris missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Melton missed 20 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Bamba missed 3 since 4/02, returns tonight: 15 min (115% of 13)
BACK Maxey back 4/04 after 2, 33 min since (87% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 4/02 after 29, 28 min since (82% of 35)
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 16 min since (134% of 12)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/31 after 3, 10 min since (81% of 12)
PHI availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 3 since 4/04, returns tonight: 28 min (83% of 34)
OUT Melton missed 21 since 3/01, returns tonight: 16 min (60% of 26)
BACK Maxey back 4/04 after 2, 40 min since (106% of 38)
BACK Embiid back 4/02 after 29, 28 min since (82% of 35)
BACK Bamba back 4/07 after 3, 15 min since (115% of 13)
BACK Martin back 3/31 after 2, 18 min since (145% of 12)
BACK Dowtin Jr. back 3/31 after 3, 10 min since (89% of 12)
NEW Oubre Jr. 31 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Batum 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Payne 18 to 23 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 2 since 3/22, out tonight
OKC availability going into 3/27 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 3 since 3/22, out tonight
OKC availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 4 since 3/22, out tonight
NEW K. Williams 14 to 20 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 2 since 3/27, returns tonight: 35 min (101% of 35)
OUT Dieng missed 5 since 3/22, out tonight
NEW K. Williams 14 to 20 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 6 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 3/31 after 2, 35 min since (101% of 35)
NEW Wiggins 16 to 21 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 4/03 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 7 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 3/31 after 2, 35 min since (101% of 35)
NEW Wiggins 16 to 24 min over the last 4
OKC availability going into 4/05 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Jal. Williams missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 8 since 3/22, out tonight
NEW Joe 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Jay. Williams 13 to 18 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Jal. Williams missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 9 since 3/22, out tonight
NEW Joe 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 16 to 23 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 4 since 4/02, returns tonight: 38 min (109% of 35)
OUT Jal. Williams missed 4 since 4/02, returns tonight: 36 min (111% of 32)
OUT Dieng missed 10 since 3/22, out tonight
NEW Giddey 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 14 to 20 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and Harris at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (29 straight), Melton (17 straight), Covington (43 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jal. Williams at 23 and Giddey at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-3 and the arc, Philadelphia at 44 percent from three to OKC's 38. Call it Philadelphia 116, OKC 113, OKC keeping it close.
3/25 @ SAC 96-108 — PHI notes
PHI lost 96-108. PHI shot 41% (34 of 82) to SAC's 44%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 20 times to SAC's 28. PHI turned it over 15 times to SAC's 7. Maxey led with 29 (10 of 16, 5 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Harris added 12, Wilson 10. Q4 was theirs, 28-25, the deficit cut from 15 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 83-68 against them. Lowry's -22 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 vs LAC 107-108 — PHI notes
PHI lost 107-108. PHI shot 48% (39 of 82) to LAC's 44%, 13 of 33 from three. PHI turned it over 12 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 8 steals. Maxey led with 26 (9 of 20, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Oubre Jr. added 17, Hield 17. Q1 was theirs, 30-18, but the other 3 periods went 90-77 against them. They led by as many as 15. Batum's -7 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 @ CLE 114-117 — PHI notes
PHI lost 114-117. PHI took 12 more shots (94 to 82), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to CLE's 55%, 16 of 40 from three. Lowry led with 23 (7 of 12, 4 of 8 from three); Harris added 21, Maxey 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, turning a 2-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-82 against them. Oubre Jr.'s -11 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 @ TOR 135-120 — PHI notes
PHI won 135-120. PHI shot 59% (49 of 83) to TOR's 52%, 24 of 43 from three. Oubre Jr. led with 32 (10 of 20, 6 of 11 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Payne added 24, Harris 21. The hinge was Q1, 35-27: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Oubre Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/02 vs OKC 109-105 — PHI notes
PHI won 109-105. PHI shot 46% (36 of 78) to OKC's 43%, 14 of 30 from three. Oubre Jr. led with 25 (8 of 16, 4 of 7 from three); Embiid added 24, Harris 18. The hinge was Q4, 36-25: PHI came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 4. PHI trailed 44-54 at the half and won the second half 65-51. Oubre Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
4/04 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 97, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Rozier at 22 and Adebayo at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Herro (19 straight), Richardson (22 straight), Mills (2 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and Oubre Jr. at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (2 straight), Melton (18 straight), Covington (44 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 97 a night to Philadelphia's 112. Call it Miami 114, Philadelphia 107.
4/06 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 24 and LaRavia at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Williams (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 26 and Oubre Jr. at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Melton (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 44 percent from three to Memphis's 34. Call it Philadelphia 112, Memphis 110, Memphis keeping it close.
4/07 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Branham at 15 a game. Without Johnson (3 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Harris at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Harris (2 straight), Melton (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 44 percent from three to San Antonio's 38 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 109 a night to San Antonio's 115. Call it San Antonio 115, Philadelphia 114, Philadelphia keeping it close.
4/09 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Maxey at 32 and Embiid at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Harris (3 straight), Melton (21 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ivey at 18 and Flynn at 14 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Cunningham (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 42 percent from three to Detroit's 34 and the glass, where Philadelphia has been minus-4 a night and Detroit minus-9. Call it Philadelphia 117, Detroit 107, Philadelphia by 10.
3/26 @ NOP 119-112 — OKC notes
OKC won 119-112. OKC shot 53% (46 of 86) to NOP's 45%, 15 of 34 from three, and got to the line 14 times to NOP's 23. Jal. Williams led with 26 (9 of 18, 3 of 6 from three); Giddey added 25, Gilgeous-Alexander 24. The hinge was Q2, 40-24: OKC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 15, and the lead reached 20. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/27 vs HOU 126-132 — OKC notes
OKC lost 126-132 in 1 overtime. OKC shot 49% (47 of 96) to HOU's 48%, 14 of 38 from three. Giddey led with 31 (12 of 20, 0 of 3 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Jal. Williams added 23, Joe 17. Q2 was theirs, 33-21, turning a 11-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 111-93 against them. Jal. Williams's -14 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 vs PHX 128-103 — OKC notes
OKC won 128-103. OKC shot 56% (49 of 87) to PHX's 45%, 16 of 30 from three. Giddey led with 23 (10 of 15, 1 of 3 from three); Holmgren added 20, Wallace 16. The hinge was Q3, 31-21: a lead of 11 became 21, and the lead reached 29. Wallace was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/31 @ NYK 113-112 — OKC notes
OKC won 113-112. OKC shot 54% (44 of 82) to NYK's 41%, 13 of 34 from three, and got to the line 24 times to NYK's 34. Jal. Williams led with 33 (14 of 18, 1 of 4 from three, 4 of 8 at the line); Gilgeous-Alexander added 19, Giddey 16. The hinge was Q4, 38-27: OKC came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 1.
4/02 @ PHI 105-109 — OKC notes
OKC lost 105-109. OKC took 9 more shots (87 to 78), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to PHI's 46%, 13 of 39 from three. Holmgren led with 22 (7 of 14, 3 of 6 from three); Dort added 15, Wiggins 15. Q2 was theirs, 32-19, turning a 3-point deficit into a 10-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 90-73 against them. They led by as many as 13. Holmgren's -11 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/03 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Brown at 20 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jal. Williams at 24 and Giddey at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Boston 118, OKC 113.
4/05 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Haliburton at 21 a game. One day's rest. OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jal. Williams at 24 and Giddey at 19 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (2 straight), Jal. Williams (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, OKC giving it away 14 times a game to Indiana's 9 and the defense, Indiana allowing 111 a night to OKC's 118. Call it Indiana 119, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
4/07 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 26 and Miller at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Richards (3 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Giddey at 16 and Holmgren at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (3 straight), Jal. Williams (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been minus-4 a night and Charlotte minus-10. Call it OKC 114, Charlotte 112, Charlotte keeping it close.
4/09 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 15 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (4 straight), Jal. Williams (4 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Murray at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 100 a night to OKC's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-7 a night and OKC minus-3. Call it Sacramento 114, OKC 112, OKC keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHIBH B. Hield
CP C. Payne
JE J. Embiid
KL K. Lowry
KM K. Martin
KO K. Oubre Jr.
NB N. Batum
PR P. Reed
TH T. Harris
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
GH G. Hayward
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
LW L. Waters III
MM M. Muscala
PHI/OKC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Joel Embiid scores 24 points in his return from knee surgery. Sixers top Thunder 109-105
PHILADELPHIA -- — Joel Embiid put Philadelphia ahead with four free throws in the final 40 seconds and finished with 24 points in his first game in nine weeks following knee surgery, leading the 76ers to a 109-105 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.
Embiid added seven assists and six rebounds in nearly 30 minutes — but most important, he brought the confidence that the Sixers can salvage their season and make a postseason run with last season's MVP in the lineup.
Embiid was congratulated by Hall of Famer Allen Iverson after the game.
“I thought I was pretty bad," Embiid said. “I just understand. Usually when I come back from these things, I think 30, 40 (points), whatever it takes to get the win. This time, it's a little different. It's going to take me a while to get back to myself and really trust myself. As long as we win, I think my biggest impact is just being out there defensively.”
Chet Holmgren scored 22 points to lead the Thunder, who fell one-half game behind Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota moved into a tie with Oklahoma City.
The Sixers trailed by 11 points with 7:27 left before they went on a torrid run. Kelly Oubre Jr . hit a 3 that got the comeback rolling, and Embiid capped it off with a series of free throws. Embiid hit two for a 106-105 lead and added two more that made it 108-105. He made all 12 foul shots on the night.
Embiid sat exhausted on the scorer's table as the final seconds ticked off before he sauntered over to Iverson.
Oubre scored 25 points and Tobias Harris had 18.
Embiid was injured on Jan. 30 at Golden State. He had meniscus surgery on his left knee a week later, and the Sixers crashed in the East standings without him. They are currently eighth, 1 1/2 games behind Miami.
With a healthy Embiid, the 76ers at least have a better chance to win a series or two in the playoffs.
“He changes them significantly,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They play a lot different stylistically when he’s in to where they have been lately in the last 30 games he’s been out or so. When he plays, it certainly changes their approach.”
The Thunder couldn't hold on in the fourth with All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out for the third time in four games with a quad injury. Jalen Williams (ankle) also sat out for the Thunder. All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey (hip) was inactive for the 76ers.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse was impressed by the state of the Thunder, in large part because of Gilgeous-Alexander’s play.
“I think they’ve got a lot of stuff,” Nurse said. “They’ve got an incredible superstar who’s as good as anybody in the league. They’ve got some other emerging superstars that are very good players. They play a system that they’re all in tune with.”