Thunder at 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are winners of three straight games and crushed their last two opponents by a total of 66 points. The Oklahoma City Thunder, who visit the 76ers on Saturday, are not enjoying much success with losses in five of their last six games while struggling on the defensive end.
Philadelphia will put that suspect Thunder defense to the test after following up a 149-107 pasting of the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 120-96 triumph at fellow Eastern Conference-contender Indiana on Thursday. "We were locked in, especially toward the end of the third quarter," 76ers center Joel Embiid told reporters after Thursday's triumph. "Everybody stuck to the concepts. I feel it's a matter of us trying and when we do try, we are actually really good at it." Oklahoma City is giving up an average of 130.2 points over the last six contests and allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to shoot 50.5 percent from the floor in Thursday's 138-128 overtime setback. "It was a slight lack of awareness," Thunder reserve center Nerlens Noel told reporters. "Backdoors and small things. We just have to do a better job of guarding the ball one on one. Being around the team the last few days, defense has been the focal point. Regardless of the lineup we have to guard the yard to make sure teams aren't getting easy baskets or wide-open threes."
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
ABOUT THE THUNDER (26-18): Oklahoma City's players believe that the team just needs to make small tweaks to fix the defense. "A little bit of communication, the small things," small forward Jerami Grant told reporters. "The defense is the most important thing. If you're limiting the team you're playing to a certain amount of points, you'll win the game." Thunder coach Billy Donovan reiterated the team's need to defend the 3-point line at a high level after the Lakers knocked down 19-of-40 from beyond the arc.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (30-16): Philadelphia totaled 40 assists on 55 made field goals in Tuesday's win over the Timberwolves and was just as willing to share the ball in Thursday's contest. "Thirty-eight of our 46 made baskets were assisted, and that is a statement that we are proud of," 76ers coach Brett Brown told reporters. "You guard, you share ... and it set the table for a good night." Three players tied for the team lead with eight assists on Thursday, including Embiid, who collected 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in 35 minutes at Indiana while playing through a sore back.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Thunder PG Russell Westbrook needed 30 field-goal attempts to reach 26 points on Thursday (7-of-30).
2. 76ers SG Jimmy Butler is 18-of-27 from the floor over the last two games.
3. Oklahoma City is enjoying an 18-game winning streak in the series.