Reigning MVP Joel Embiid scored 24 points and provided key plays down the stretch in his first game back in almost two months, as the Philadelphia 76ers stormed back from 13 points down to nip the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, 109-105.
The @Sixers win in Embiid's return to action 🔔
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 3, 2024
Oubre Jr.: 25 PTS | 6 REB
Embiid: 24 PTS | 6 REB | 7 AST
Harris: 18 PTS | 6 REB | 4 AST pic.twitter.com/HE536eehlc
Playing for the first time since January 30, Embiid came up big late while finishing with six rebounds, seven dimes, and three steals in 29 minutes. He went 12-of-12 from the free throw line.
The Sixers played without All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey (hip), while the Thunder are without two key starters in leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right quad contusion) and Jalen Williams (left ankle sprain).
Trailing 94-83 midway through the fourth, Philadelphia rode a scorching 18-7 run to tie things up at 101 capped off by an Embiid short stab with 3:22 ticks left.
Embiid's middy ties the game!
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2024
101-101 on TNT pic.twitter.com/xP5QNoftC9
After hitting two free throws to give the Sixers back the lead at 106-105, the Sixers big man picked the pocket of Thunder’s Josh Giddey and before getting fouled anew in a fastbreak play.
He then proceeded to hit another two in the charity stripes with 25 seconds left with Philly holding the fort the rest of the way.
Embiid with the clutch steal and gets to the line 💪
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2024
PHI leads 108-105 after the FTs... 25 seconds left on TNT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/TNzMoxjwY8
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth, including an and-one slam off a Kyle Lowry feed that tied the game at 103-apiece with three minutes left in the fourth.
Oubre Jr. slam + the foul to take the lead on TNT! 💪
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2024
3 minutes left... pic.twitter.com/Ne9cQws4Bs
Oubre went 6-out-of-7 from the field, including hitting all of his 4 triples in the final frame, while being a pest defensively all-game long for the Sixers, who sweep the regular season matchup with the Thunder.
Cameron Payne had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists as he started in place of the injured All-Star Tyrese Maxey, who missed his second straight game due to a hip injury.
Chet Holmgren scored 22 points to lead the Thunder, who are in a tight race with Minnesota and Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference.
OKC outscored Philadelphia, 32-19, in the second frame after trailing by three in the first 12 minutes. Isaiah Joe connected on a triple with 30 seconds left in the second to give the Thunder a 54-44 at the break.
OKC and Philly making it rain heading into the half! 🌧?
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2024
Thunder lead 54-44 at the break on TNT. pic.twitter.com/eZSdjCJWbW
Lu Dort hit a booming triple to build Oklahoma City’s biggest lead at 57-44 early in the third frame.
The win enabled Philly (41-35) to close the gap with the seventh-seeded Miami Heat (42-33) to just 1.5 games back, while the Thunder (52-23) are now tied with the Nuggets (52-23) for the top spot in the West.
