Thunder vs 76ers Prediction, Odds & Game Preview 3/19/2025

The red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder welcome a struggling Philadelphia 76ers squad to the Paycom Center, with the home team riding high on a 10-1 stretch while missing their superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for this contest.

Despite missing key players including Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Kyle Lowry, the Sixers showed signs of life in their recent overtime battle with Houston, where Quentin Grimes exploded for 46 points in a losing effort.

The Thunder's league-leading defense looks to shut down a short-handed Sixers team that's dropped 16 of their last 19 games as the Western Conference powerhouse (56-12) squares off against the struggling visitors (23-45) in what promises to be an intriguing clash of teams heading in opposite directions.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers preview

The red-hot Thunder welcome a struggling Sixers squad to Paycom Center in what's shaping up to be quite the contrast in momentum.

OKC's been absolutely crushing it lately, winning 10 of their last 11, with their suffocating defense holding opponents to a league-best 43.6% shooting - though they'll be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who's getting a well-deserved rest after dropping 31 points against Milwaukee.

Philly's going through a rough patch, dropping 16 of their last 19, but they showed some fight in their recent overtime thriller against Houston where Quentin Grimes exploded for 46 points.

The Sixers' depleted roster - missing Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Kyle Lowry - hasn't stopped them from putting up a fight, as evidenced by their 78-point first-half outburst against the Rockets.

What's particularly interesting is the Thunder's perfect 19-0 record in night games against teams with losing records, while the Sixers have historically played well at Paycom Center, winning their last four visits.

Keep an eye on Isaiah Hartenstein, who's been a force for OKC lately with his double-double performance against the Bucks, though his questionable status adds another layer of intrigue to this matchup.

The scoring trends suggest we might see some fireworks, with both teams' recent games consistently hitting the over.

Even with their superstar taking the night off, the Thunder's league-leading defense and deep roster make them heavy favorites, but don't count out these scrappy Sixers who've shown they can still light up the scoreboard when everything clicks.