Game Day Preview: Thunder vs. 76ers; Who Will Win the MVP?

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are riding a six-game winning streak and are playing their best basketball of the rebuilding period.

The Thunder’s game versus the 76ers will feature two MVP candidates: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Joel Embiid. After topping the NBA in scoring the previous two years, the reigning MVP is averaging 31.9 points this season.

Both MVP-caliber candidates form dangerous duos with their young star teammates. Tyrese Maxey and Chet Holmgren have both bolstered their teams and helped set them near the top of their respective conferences.

ODDS:

The Thunder enter the day as 1.5-point underdogs to the Philadelphia 76ers, and the total over/under is 231.5 points.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

The most significant matchup will be Holmgren against Embiid. The Thunder rookie has been the defensive anchor inside, and against one of the best big men in the league, he will have his work cut out for him. Averaging 2.3 blocks, Holmgren has been a major key to Oklahoma City’s top-five defense. While the Gonzaga product has been instrumental, rookie Cason Wallace’s success has also been a welcome surprise to the team.

Wallace will likely earn his third start with Jalen Williams out with a hip ailment. The Kentucky product will almost certainly devote time to Maxey throughout the game in an attempt to slow down one of the league’s top-10 scorers.

Another backcourt player has a chance to shine against his former team. Former Philadelphia guard Isaiah Joe is making nearly three 3-pointers per game for Oklahoma City and is one of the few players in the league to shoot better than 50% from beyond the arc, despite the fact that Oklahoma City is the league’s best shooting team at 40.8%.

RECORDS:

Oklahoma City Thunder (11-4) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (10-5) INJURIES: Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today. WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at 4:00 PM CT

LOCATION:

Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK TV/RADIO: Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal

FINAL WORD:

The Thunder will have their first seven-game winning streak since 2019 if they win on Saturday. The Thunder would also take first place in the Western Conference if they won this game.

The Thunder will return to the road on Tuesday for their last In-Season Tournament matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.