The Sixers (9-59) will finish off a back-to-back set when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder (46-22) at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night (7 p.m./CSN).
Let’s take a closer look at the matchup:
1. Point of view
As if the Sixers’ inability to clamp down on opposing point guards wasn’t already glaring, this current three-game homestand should shine an even brighter light on the problem.
First up was John Wall, who has owned the Sixers this season. That trend continued on Thursday night, as Wall recorded his second consecutive triple-double with 16 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds in the Wizards’ 99-94 win over the Sixers on Thursday.
“Statistically, you’d look at it, that is not a John Wall-type game ... but you look at his ultimate point production and his assists and his rebounds, and it sort of all adds up,” Sixers head coach Brett Brown said. “I thought we did a pretty good job on him.”
If that was a good job, we can’t wait to see Friday’s effort when Russell Westbrook comes to town.
Westbrook is averaging 24.0 points, 10.4 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. More importantly, he leads the NBA with 12 triple-doubles, including a 21-point, 17-rebound, 11-assist showing during the Thunder’s 102-85 win over the Sixers back on Nov. 13.
NBA
2. But wait, it gets worse
Westbrook could actually end up not being the Sixers’ biggest worry on Friday night. After all, OKC does still have former league MVP Kevin Durant on the roster.
Durant is back to his normal self after dealing with foot issues last season. He is third in the NBA in scoring with 28.0 points per game to go along with 8.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
Durant missed the Thunder’s first matchup of the season against the Sixers with a strained left hamstring. However, the seven-time all-star has done damage when the two teams have faced off during his career. Durant has lifetime averages of 26.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists against the Sixers.
With the Sixers’ best wing defender, Jerami Grant, just returning from a concussion and Robert Covington still sidelined with one of his own, it could be a long night for the team in regards to slowing down the Durantula.
3. Bigger than basketball
While a visit from a top team such as the Thunder will certainly bring a buzz to the Wells Fargo Center, it will also be an emotional return for Dion Waiters.
The Thunder guard and Philadelphia native will be back in his hometown just 10 days after his younger brother, Demetrius Pinckney, was killed in South Philly.
Waiters missed four games after his brother’s death before returning to action in the Thunder’s 130-109 win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
“It's another game but I get a chance to be with my family, be around my little brothers and sisters,” Waiters said. “You just try to cherish the moment because you just never know. You never know what type of situation you're going to be in as far as like family, anything can happen.”
Waiters already took steps to make the trip a positive one by donating $10,000 for a new playground to E.M. Stanton Elementary School, which he attended as a child and where he first started playing basketball. His family and friends along with Thunder teammates and staff attended a ceremony at the South Philly school on Thursday to honor Waiters.
“These kids don’t have a huge outlet,” Waiters said. “The park should be huge for everybody, it’s a chance to come out here and enjoy yourself. That’s the most important thing.”
4. Injuries
The Thunder have no players listed on the injury report.
Covington (concussion) and Richaun Holmes (Achilles) are day to day.
5. This and that
• The Sixers are 1-13 in the second game of back-to-back sets.
• The Thunder have won 13 straight games against the Sixers.
• The Sixers are 1-8 since Jahlil Okafor has been sidelined.
• OKC has won its two games this week by a combined 55 points.
• Christian Wood actually led the Sixers in scoring during the season’s first matchup with 15 points off the bench.
• The Thunder had 13 blocks in the season’s first meeting between the two teams.