The Oklahoma City Thunder were not able to close out 2022 with a home win as they were thoroughly beaten by the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers, 115-96.
With a thin frontcourt, the Sixers were able to dominate inside, outscoring the Thunder 66-46 inside the paint. This will likely continue to be an issue for the Thunder as they lack size for the foreseeable future due to injuries.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his worst game of the season, finishing with a season-low 14 points on an inefficient 4-of-15 shooting.
Let’s take a look at some of the best photos from the Thunder’s 19-point loss to the Sixers.
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) drives against Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton (18) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoots the ball against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) the shot during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle (22) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Lindy Waters III (12) shoots a three point basket against Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton (18) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) gestures after a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) and guard Matisse Thybulle (22) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (55) dribbles around Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle (22) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (55) shoots the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz (30) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (23) drives to the basket around Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton (18) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell (5) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder center Mike Muscala (33) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang (20) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (23) reach for a loose ball during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives down the court against Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton (18) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton (8) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton (8) during the second half at Paycom Center. Philadelphia won 115-96. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) works to steal the ball from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; A detailed view of the shoes worn by Oklahoma City Thunder center Mike Muscala (33) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; A detailed view of the shoes worn by Philadelphia 76ers guard Matisse Thybulle (22) during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; A detailed view of the shoes worn by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (55) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris (12) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (34) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (23) works to steal the ball from Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton (18) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell (5) dunks against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley (55) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) runs down the court against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton (8) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton (18) drives against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after a play against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Story originally appeared on Thunder Wire
