GRADES: Philadelphia 76ers 120, Oklahoma City Thunder 113
By Sam Coltrane
The Philadelphia 76ers end their losing streak at four games as they topple the Oklahoma City Thunder in their return home.
In what had seasons past been a heated rivalry served as a calm-tempered game. Neither the Philadelphia 76ers nor the Oklahoma City Thunder received a technical in what was a competitive game, but didn’t include the previous heated back and forth.
The two teams opened up quickly and evenly. Both teams combined to score 31 points in the first quarter with the largest lead being a six point Oklahoma City lead.
The two teams began the second quarter evenly much like the first, until a James Ennis III layup with 5:09 remaining in the second kick-started a 20-7 run to give them a 62-52 lead going into the half.
Oklahoma City started a comeback in the third quarter by scoring 34 points on 50 percent shooting and entered the fourth trailing by only four-points, 90-86.
Oklahoma City never was able to even the game up in the final period. A Dennis Schroder 20-foot jumper pushed the score to 106-108, but a Tobias Harris dunk, Ben Simmons layup, and Harris three-pointer game Philadelphia a 115-106 lead that proved too much for Oklahoma City to overcome.
A+. <strong>37 mins | 17 pts | 15 reb | 8 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 2 TO | 6-12 FG | 0-0 3PT| 5-6 FT | 4 PF | +18 |</strong><p>Simmons played one of his best games of the season coming just two assists shy of a triple-double, including 15 rebounds. On top of that, Simmons played strong defense and showed his dominance on the floor with a team leading +18.</p>. PG. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS
A. <strong>32 mins | 18 pts | 9 reb | 8 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 2 TO | 7-17 FG | 0-3 3PT| 4-5 FT | 4 PF | +4 |</strong><p>Embiid showcased a durability that many Philadelphia fans will be rejoiced to see. After suffering a grotesquely dislocated finger, Embiid played through the pain and produced a very strong stat line while also highlighting his passing vision and limiting turnovers. It wasn’t his best game of the year, but one almost all Philadelphia fans should be very encouraged by.</p>. C. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID
A-. <strong>36 mins | 23 pts | 2 reb | 4 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 9-17 FG | 2-4 3PT| 3-4 FT | 5 PF | +4 |</strong><p>A strong performance by Richardson as he led all Philadelphia players in scoring. It was not a perfect performance, but his emergence as a scorer will prove vital throughout the season and he is proving to be more comfortable with each passing game. If he can continue shooting at a fair level, Philadelphia’s offense will take another step.</p>. SG. Philadelphia 76ers. JOSH RICHARDSON
A-. <strong>22 mins | 18 pts | 6 reb | 4 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 7-11 FG | 4-6 3PT| 0-0 FT | 6 PF | +6 |</strong><p>Harris played a great game that was highlighted by his ability to spread the floor and pour in numbers. Knocking down four three-pointers and producing such a strong stat line in only 22 minutes ordinarily warrants a straight A grade. He also poured in five of the final points that helped seal the win. Unfortunately, only playing 22 minutes because of foul trouble is something a short-benched Philadelphia team can’t afford to make a pattern. In what was a very strong on-court performance needs to be bolstered by staying on the court.</p>. SF. Philadelphia 76ers. TOBIAS HARRIS
B+. <strong>34 mins | 13 pts | 4 reb | 4 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 2 TO | 6-10 FG | 1-2 3PT| 0-0 FT | 2 PF | +2 |</strong><p>I typically don’t discuss all five starters, and <a rel=. PF. Philadelphia 76ers. AL HORFORD
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Philadelphia has shot 50 percent or better from three-point range in back-to-back home games and will look to push their home record to 18-2 as they take on the Boston Celtics, Thursday.