Things have not been going well for the 76ers this past week. Currently, Philly is on a four-game losing streak and is losing control in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top seed. They sit a game and a half behind the Brooklyn Nets while the Milwaukee Bucks are right behind them. Hopefully, the Sixers can gain some ground with their easy schedule to close out the season starting tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Just like their last several games, the 76ers will likely be short-handed once again. Ben Simmons will miss his fifth straight game tonight with the flu. This non-COVID illness has been brutal during the Sixers’ chase for the first seed, and it is worrisome that he’s already missed this much time. Alongside Ben, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and Furkan Korkmaz are all listed as questionable. Joel sat out Saturday’s blowout loss to the Bucks with right shoulder soreness.

These two teams played two weeks back in Oklahoma City, where the Sixers won 117-93. Both Tobias Harris and Danny Green did not play, and it wasn’t much of a problem at all for the Sixers. Joel Embiid dominated with 27 points in 27 minutes, with Korkmaz right behind him with a 20 point outburst. For the Thunder, they will be without their star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again, who is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. 

If they want to stay in the hunt for the first seed, every game is an important one for the Philadelphia 76ers. They cannot lose these easy games anymore with only 11 games left following tonight. If at least one of the Sixers’ three stars plays tonight, it should be a win, but there is no need to risk it if everyone has been getting adequate rest recently.

Mandatory Credit: Yahoo Sports