Sixers hang around before getting run off the floor by the Thunder, 129-104 final

The Sixers walked into Oklahoma City knowing exactly what kind of test they were getting.

The defending champs, the best defense in basketball, and a team that does not let you breathe for even a second. For about two and a half quarters, Philly held up just fine. Then the Thunder flipped the switch and reminded everyone why they are 27-5.

Oklahoma City pulled away in the second half for a 129-104 win at Paycom Center, dropping the Sixers to 16-14.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 28 points and five assists, while Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced OKC with 29 and 27 points respectively.

The Sixers were shorthanded once again, playing without Joel Embiid, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Trendon Watford, which made the margin for error razor thin from the opening tip.

.@TyreseMaxey cookin' early! pic.twitter.com/LrOWI2UjC5

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 28, 2025

The Thunder came out scorching. They hit their first nine shots and played with a level of pace and precision that immediately tested Philly’s defense.

Holmgren scored with ease inside, Jalen Williams cut freely to the rim, and Gilgeous-Alexander did what he always does, calmly carving up coverage without forcing the issue.

Even so, the Sixers weathered the storm early. OKC turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter, and a late Quentin Grimes three briefly gave Philly a 25-24 lead.

Tyrese Maxey was electric in the first half. He scored 15 points in the opening quarter alone, attacking downhill, finishing through traffic, and knocking down jumpers with confidence. He opened the game a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and had 23 points by halftime, keeping the Sixers within striking distance despite OKC’s early surge.

After a couple of rough shooting nights earlier in the week, this felt like Maxey reasserting himself against elite competition.

The supporting cast actually helped early. Adem Bona gave productive minutes with smart finishes and free throws. Justin Edwards came off the bench firing, drilling three triples in the second quarter.

Edwards is on a heater! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZPg2r4THjA

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 28, 2025

Jared McCain leaked out for an easy bucket, and for a moment, Philly even grabbed a one-point lead late in the second before heading into halftime down just two.

Then came the third quarter, which has become a recurring nightmare. Oklahoma City zeroed in on Maxey, denying him the ball and sending extra attention whenever he tried to initiate. He did not score in the second half until a technical free throw midway through the fourth.

With Maxey bottled up, the offense stalled. Gilgeous-Alexander took control, capped an 11-0 run, and pushed the Thunder lead into double digits. Philly tried a zone, but OKC shredded it with ball movement and spacing, hitting 100 points before the third quarter even ended.

VJ Edgecombe struggled mightily as a scorer, finishing 3-for-16, and Paul George could not consistently create off the dribble.

Once OKC seized control, the game slipped away fast. The Thunder dominated the third quarter, turning a competitive game into a runaway, and the fourth quarter was mostly academic.

One real positive for Philly was Adem Bona. Against a team built on speed and length, he looked comfortable. He made good reads, finished through contact, hit his free throws, and provided rim protection without fouling himself off the floor.

With Andre Drummond struggling to make an impact, Bona’s steady play was a welcome sign and another reminder that his season has been inconsistent, not hopeless.

Justin Edwards also embodied the roller coaster. His first-half shooting gave the Sixers a lift, but his second-half decision-making was brutal. A bad turnover and an ill-timed foul late in the third helped fuel an OKC run, once again highlighting why his role remains unstable.

In the end, this game said more about the Thunder than the Sixers. Oklahoma City is relentless, disciplined, and terrifying when they lock in defensively.

Philly hung around longer than the final score suggests, but once OKC decided it was time to end things, there was nothing left to grab onto.

The Sixers now head to Memphis for the third stop of their road trip. With Embiid still out and the margin for error razor thin, nights like this are going to happen.

The key is taking the positives, burning the tape, and moving on. Against the champs, Philly learned exactly how sharp the edge still needs to be.

Join The Chase